President of Madhesi Janadhikar Forum (MJF) Upendra Yadav speaking at an interaction program in which he said the Forum is ready for dialogue with the Nepal government to solve the problems of the Terai, Thursday, Jan 25 07. nepalnews.com/ANA

President of Madhesi Janadhikar Forum (MJF) Upendra Yadav speaking at ..
Chairman of Madhesi Janadhikar Forum (MJF), Upendra Yadav, has said his group is ready for talks “if the government creates conducive atmosphere”.

“We have not denied talks with the government. But, for talks to start, the government should create a conducive atmosphere,” Yadav said at a programme in the capital Thursday.

He said the Home Minister should resign on moral grounds for the “clack down” on the MJF activists and government should punish the murderer of Ramesh Mahato, a school student who was shot dead reportedly by a Maoist cadre during a Maoist-MJF clash in Siraha’s Lahan on Friday.

Yadav, however said the MJF had taken positively the appeal of the Prime Minister for talks to resolve the problems, but the government should come positively about the demands of Madhesis, which include an independent Terai province and proportional representation system in the upcoming constituent assembly elections.

He also claimed that his group shared no link with the factions Terai Janatantrik Morcha (JTMM) that have been carrying out individual killings, extortion and abductions in some Terai districts.

Last few days have seen worst violence in Lahan, Janakpur, Birgunj and Biratnagar where MJF activists have intensified their protests.