In its talks with the government, on Friday, the Madhesi Janadhikar Forum (MJF) presented 26-point demands.

According to MJF’s general secretary Ram Kumar Sharma, the demands include issues such as restructuring of state, formation of commission to implement state restructuring, inclusion of Madhesis in all organs of state, federal system of governance, proportional representation, withdrawal of charges against leaders of MJF, compensation to those injured during Madhes agitation and other problems of Terai.

Sharma said that although in many points, the two sides were nearing understanding, the issues of proportional representation, and federal system with right to self determination were still being discussed.

The talks started at 2 pm in Janakpur and were going on till 9 pm. The talks were held at the meeting hall of Nepal Rastra Bank amid tight security.

The government talks team is led by Peace and Reconstruction Minister Ram Chandra Poudel and the MJF team is led by its chairman Upendra Yadav.

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

The MJF talk team also comprises its coordinator Sitanandan Raya, Mohammed Nasir Siddiqui and Kishor Biswas.