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NC bemused over Terai parties' demands

Even though the ruling Nepali Congress (NC) appears much more lenient to Terai based parties' demands than CPN (Maoist) and CPN (UML), a serious division has cropped up within the party regarding the same.

The rift was seen between the central members of the party during their meeting at Prime Minister's residence in Baluwatar called by their party president Girija Prasad Koirala to discuss the demands raised by Terai-based parties (Madhesi parties).

While few leaders were of the opinion that the agreement done by the government with the United Democratic Madhesi Front (UDMF), a loose (and probably defunct) alliance of three Madhesi parties Madhesi Janadhikar Forum (MJF), Terai Madhesh Loktantric Party (TMLP) and Sadbhavana Party (SP), should be written down as it is in the interim constitution, majority where of the stance that that the party should seek consensus of other political parties on this issue.

The differences between the NC central members mainly revolved around the definition of a "Madhes autonomous province" and "group entry" of Madhesis into Nepal Army, two things CPN (Maoist) and CPN (UML) also clearly object. After the discussion was inconclusive, PM Koirala advised the central members to move ahead by seeking consensus with other political parties on this issue, a participant in the meeting said.

However, it is learnt that the NC leader have agreed to wait till the taskforce of the three largest party to prepare the draft of a supplementary constitution amendment bill where the Madhesi demands would be addressed and then put it to the Constituent Assembly to have a final say on the matter. nepalnews.com ag July 02 08