Madhesis decry amendment bill

Nepal’s two top Madhesi leaders Friday 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.

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”.

Mr 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.