The much-awaited talks between the government and the Madhesi Janadhikar Forum (MJF) started in Janakpur Friday afternoon.

MJF chairman Upendra Yadav

MJF chairman Upendra Yadav (File Photo)
The government talk team led by Peace and Reconstruction Minister Ram Chandra Poudel and the MJF team led by its chairman Upendra Yadav are holding formal talks at the meeting hall of Nepal Rastra Bank. Security has been tightened in and around the talks venue, reports say.

Poudel’s team, which also comprises two state ministers, Gyanendra Karki and Ram Chandra Yadav, had arrived in Janakpur by flight in the morning.

Both sides made no comments today as to how hopeful they were about the success of the dialogue. However, MJF chairman Yadav told media in Janakpur yesterday that the success of talks would depend on how positively the government side comes up at the table.

He also said there would be formal negotiation with the government on wide ranging issues including federal system of governance, proportional representation and other problems of Terai. The MJF talk team also comprises its coordinator Sitanandan Raya and Mohammed Nasir Siddiqui and Kishor Biswas.