As the Terai districts continue to reel under violent protests, top leaders of the eight parties met today in an attempt to find a political solution to the crisis.
The meeting held at the Prime Minister’s residence in Baluwatar late in the afternoon, lasting for nearly three hours, was postponed until Tuesday morning as the issues needed more discussion.
Nepali Congress leader Arjun Narsingh KC talking to journalists after the eight party meeting to discuss the recent unrest in different parts of the Terai, Monday evening, Jan 29 07. nepalnews.com/rh
Nepali Congress leader Arjun Narsingh KC talking to journalists after the eight party meeting to discuss the recent unrest in different parts of the Terai, Monday evening, Jan 29 07. nepalnews.com/rh
According to Arjun Narsingh KC, a Nepali Congress leader, the meeting “thoroughly discussed” the national political scenario, the unrest in Terai and demands of Madhesi protesting groups as well as the ways to maintain law and order in the eastern and southern flatlands.
“The overall political scenario including the problems of Terai was thoroughly discussed at the meeting. The issue of federal system also figured in the debate” he told reporters after the meeting. “Tomorrow’s meeting will surely come up with concrete decisions,” added he.
“The need at the moment,” he said, “is to rise above the caste and regional lines and live in harmony.” “More than Pahades (hilly people) and Madhesis, we are Nepalis.”
PM Girija Prasad Koirala, Maoist chairman Prachanda, UML general secretary Madhav Kumar Nepal and other senior leaders participated in the meeting. The top leaders were scheduled to meet on Sunday but the meeting was cancelled due to the death of Nepali Congress leader Nona Koirala.
While brainstorming over the key demands of protesting Madhesi groups, the Baluwatar meeting also touched on the concerns over continuous attacks on government installations, houses of political leaders and independent media by the protesters, it is learnt.
CPN general secretary Nepal whose ancestral residence in Rautahat’s Gaur was vandalised by the protesters recently presented the decisions of the meeting of the UML Standing Committee held this morning. The Standing Committee meeting condemned the violence and stressed that the crisis should be resolved through dialogue, UML sources said.
The eight-party meeting is expected to find a political way out to the Terai unrest that has claimed seven lives till date.
The Madhesi Janadhikar Forum (MJF) and other Medhesi groups have been protesting with the demand to amend the interim constitution to incorporate proportional electoral system on the basis of population for the upcoming constituent assembly polls and a federal system.
The government has already called upon the protesting groups for dialogue to address the problems politically.