Three-party meeting fails to evolve common position on Terai crisis

A meeting of top leaders of the three main ruling parties, Nepali Congress, CPN (UML) and CPN (Maoist), on Thursday could not evolve common position on the Terai stalemate and the demands of the agitating Madhesi parties.

Maoist chairman Prachanda, UML general secretary Madhav Kumar Nepal, NC leader Sher Bahadur Deuba and some other leaders discussed the six demands floated by the United Democratic Madhesi Front (UDMF) including guarantee of autonomy to Terai with right to self-determination, but could not reach any conclusion.

None of the leaders were ready to speak to media persons following the meeting held at Prime Minister’s residence, Baluwatar.

Prachanda had yesterday said that the seven parties would try to resolve the Terai crisis in a couple of days and agree the agitating UDMF to participate in the constituent assembly election.

The three-party meeting came a day after the ‘failed’ negotiation between the Prime Minister’s representatives and UDMF leaders held at the Indian Embassy.

The UDMF, which has been enforcing a general strike in Terai region since past nine days, snubbed the Election Commission’s deadline to file the closed list of candidates for proportional election system on Wednesday.

In anticipation of early breakthrough in negotiations with the UDMF, the government today convinced the Election Commission to set another deadline (Feb 24) for submitting the closed list. nepalnews.com mk Feb 21 08

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