In an emotionally charged address to the nation today, Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala appealed to all sides for talks to resolve their grievances and announced the eight-party agreement to go for federal structure of the state after constituent assembly polls.

Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala addressing the nation on the terai issue from his official residence in Baluwatar, Wednesday afternoon, Jan 31 07. nepalnews.com/rh (Nepal Television photo)

Prime Minister Koirala addressing the nation on the terai… (rm) (wmv)
Delivering the televised address from his official residence in Baluwatar, PM Koirala said the door for talks was open to all sides to resolve all kinds of grievances and called upon the protesting groups including Madhesis to call off their agitations and bandhs.

Koirala said the ongoing violent protests in parts of the country smacked of suspicion that reactionary forces might have played in such protests. He also made it known that he had already ordered the Home Minister to form a committee to hold talks with the protesting groups.

“…After the historic change in the country, people’s desires found an outlet, which is natural,” he said, adding, “But all the problems should be resolved through talks.”

The Prime Minister, who started his speech informally, said this was his first address to the nation and could well be his last, given his age and health condition.

Prime Minister Koirala announced the eight-party ‘agreement’ to restructure the state based on federal democratic system, adopt mixed electoral system and delimit the election constituencies on the basis of population and geographical condition — without downsizing the existing election constituencies.

The restructuring of the state based on federal system would be done through the CA polls, he said. The PM also vowed to hold the CA polls in stipulated time, mid-June.

“The basic aim of the people’s movement was to formulate a new constitution through the constituent assembly. My strong commitment is that I will hold the constituent assembly elections in mid-June,” he said, “I, therefore, would like to appeal to one and all to create a peaceful environment and opt for talks to resolve the problems in order to conduct free and fair elections.”

The Prime Minister’s address came following an informal meeting of the eight parties in Baluwatar. The eight parties were to ink a deal on major agendas including the electoral system prior to the PM’s address but no formal meeting could take place due to differences among them, mainly on the electoral system.

Tuesday’s top-level meeting had arrived at consensus on some issues including the federal structure of the state.

The protesting Madhesi groups have been demanding proportional representation, delimitation of election constituencies on the basis of population ratio and federal system.

Eight people have died and dozens others injured in ensuing unrest in the Terai flatlands over the last few days.