MADHESI PARTIES WANT PACKAGE DEAL TO END NEPAL CRISIS

KATHMANDU: Another round of talks to resolve the constitution crisis in Nepal ended without an agreement on Sunday with protesting Madhesi parties seeking a package deal to address their demands.

The talks held between the government, the United Democratic Madhesi Front (UDMF) and opposition Nepali Congress (NC) remained inconclusive as all parties stuck to their previous stances.

Leaders from the UDMF agreed to allow tabling of a bill related to forming of a reconstruction authority for this year’s earthquakes, but disagreed on another bill seeking amendment of the statute to address their demands.

“The amendment proposal doesn’t address all our demands and therefore we are seeking a package deal agreed upon by all major political parties,” said Laxman Lal Karna, senior leader of Sadbhawana Party, one of the four Madhesi components of UDMF. Madhesi parties have forwarded an 11-point list to the government that includes fresh demarcation of federal boundaries and proportionate representation in all state organs.

The NC, which had tabled the amendment bill when it headed the previous government, is seeking tabling of both the bills together. A deal between the CPNUML, Maoists and the NC, had suggested fresh delineation of electoral constituencies and constitution of a body to address state