Madhesis in Delhi, talk to Sushma, will meet Modi

Senior leaders from the Indian-origin Madhesi community protesting against Nepal’s new Constitution on Sunday arrived in New Delhi to meet the top Indian leadership, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, for political consultations to resolve the ongoing crisis. The senior leaders of Joint Madhesi Morcha who arrived in Delhi include Mahantha Thakur, president of Terai Madhes Democratic Party; Upendra Yadav, president of Madhesi Peoples Rights Forum-Nepal; Rajendra Mahato, president of Sadbhawana Party; and Mahendra Yadav, president of Terai Madhes Sadbhawana Party.

On Saturday, they had a crucial meeting with Nepal’s major political parties, including main Opposition Nepali Congress and ruling alliance members CPN-UML and Unified CPN-Maoist, to discuss ways to resolve the ongoing crisis.

The leaders met external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj late Sunday night. They are likely to hold talks with Mr Modi regarding the ongoing agitation.

The three-point solution proposed to forward Constitution amendment bill in the Parliament, to form an all party political committee to resolve the issue relating to re-demarcation of the provincial boundary and asking the Madhesi parties to withdraw their agitation in the Nepal-India border points that has severely hit supply of essential goods.

The Madhesi parties have launched agitation protesting against the new Constitution for the past three months. Their major demands include re-demarcation of the boundary, inclusion of proportionate representation and allocation of Parliament seats on the basis of population.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs Kamal Thapa today said transport and supply management would be smoother as the obstacles seen at the Nepal-India border and “undeclared blockade” imposed by India would end soon.