Kathmandu, Dec 25 Nepal’s two top Madhesi leaders today told Maoist supremo Prachanda, who is apparently mediating between the government and the agitating group, that the Constitution amendment proposal has been “forcefully” tabled at the Parliament “without their consent”.UCPN (Maoist) Chairman and former Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal, popularly called Prachanda, met Upendra Yadav and Mahanta Thakur belonging to the agitating United Democratic Madhesi Front. (ALSO READ: Nigerian held at IGI airport with Rs 30 lakh drugs)
Prachanda, 61, asked the Madhesi leaders to withdraw their four month-long protests and blockade of key trade border points with India as Constitution amendment proposal has already been taken forward by the government to address issues of Madhesis, who are largely of Indian-origin.In response, the leaders told him that the Front is not prepared to accept the Constitution amendment proposal forwarded by the major parties as it has been “forcefully tabled at the Parliament without their consent”.
Yadav, also the Chairman of Federal Socialist Party, said: “We will agree to the amendment proposal only if government agrees to our demands, including redrawing of provincial boundaries, in package. But the amendment proposal is not acceptable under the present circumstances.” Prachanda, known for his anti-India stance, had acknowledged that lack of common stand among three major parties – Nepali Congress, CPN-UML and UCPN(M) – on Madhes issue is the reason behind the current crisis facing country.
He also met senior leaders of Nepali Congress and CPN-UML earlier later in the evening and discussed the issues relating to the Madhesi problem.On Wednesday, Prachanda had offered his party’s mediation to “act as a bridge” between the government and the agitating Madhesis to end the months-long political impasse in the country.
The Madhesis, who are inhabitants of the Terai region, are agitating over the new Constitution demanding more representation. They are also protesting division of their ancestral homeland under the seven-province structure and have led an ongoing blockade of key border trade points with India.