Madhesis reject Nepal govt's proposals on new constitution; call them vague

Kathmandu: Madhesis on Tuesday rejected as "vague" Nepal government's three-point roadmap to address their demands over some provisions of the new Constitution and vowed to continue their stir, dimming hopes of an early end to the political crisis plaguing the country.

The agitating United Democratic Madhesi Front (UDMF) held a meeting after which the four-party alliance stated it will continue with its protest programmes on the grounds that the government's proposals "failed to address issues".

The Madhesi Front rejected the government's three-point roadmap to address the issues raised by it, saying the proposals were "vague, abstract and visionless". The government on Sunday had floated a three-point proposal to address the demands of the Madhesis.

The roadmap included the provision to amend the Constitution to ensure proportionate representation of the Madhesi communities in all state organs and to allocate Parliament seats on the basis of population.

The proposal also included constituting a high-level political committee to re-demarcate the provincial boundaries within a period of three months.

The senior leaders of UDMF, Upendra Yadav of Madhesi Peoples' Rights Forum-Nepal, Laxman Lal Karna of Sadbhawana Party, Mahendra Yadav of Terai Madhes Sadbhawana Party and Mahanta Thakur of Terai Madhes Democratic Party were part of the meeting that discussed the government proposals endorsed by the Cabinet.

The proposals were communicated by Deputy Prime Minister Kamal Thapa to the Front yesterday.

After today's meeting, the UDMF issued a statement saying that the proposals failed to address the concerns raised by the Madhesi Front and other marginalised communities.

Dubbing the government proposals as "abstract, having lack of clarity and visionless", the UDMF said the government has failed to present itself seriously towards addressing the 11-point demands of the Madhesis through dialogue.

The Madhesi Front said the ongoing agitation would continue till the provincial boundaries were re-demarcated, the rights for proportional inclusiveness were ensured in all state organs along with the resolution of issues relating to citizenship and language as well as the formation of electoral constituencies on the basis of population.

Earlier today, the UDMF leaders held meeting with the top leaders of main opposition Nepali Congress and discussed the Madhesi demands and ways to resolve the crisis through amendment of the Constitution.

The agitating Madhes-based parties have been protesting for over four months against the seven-province model proposed in the new Constitution adopted on September 20 that divides their ancestral land as a way to politically marginalise them. Over 50 people have been killed in protests by Madhesis since August.

The Madhesi parties have blockaded Nepal's border trade points with India, causing a shortage of essential goods and medicines in the landlocked Himalayan country.