Sanghiya Samajbadi Forum Nepal Chairman Upendra Yadav has ruled out talks with the major parties unless they agree to federate the country as per the report of the State Restructuring Commission.

The commission, formed in November 2011 to recommend a suitable federal set-up, had proposed 11 states along ethnic lines. However, some of the commissioners had submitted a separate report proposing a six-state model stretching north to south.

In an interview with the Post on Thursday, Yadav said a federal model based on the report, which was prepared as per the recommendations of the CA Committee on State Restructuring, would address the concerns of all the agitating groups including Madhesis.

“We are not demanding new things but implementation of the agreements signed with us in the past. What’s the meaning of talks when the major parties are not ready to uphold the spirit of the Interim Constitution and historical pacts including the eight-point and 22-point agreements,” said Yadav.

Yadav said that the Samyukta Loktantrik Madhesi Morcha, a coalition of four Madhes-based parties including the SSFN, was ready to support the formation of a separate Tharuhat province comprising Tarai districts west of Chitwan to Kanchanpur.

Relations between Madhesi parties and the Tharus had soured after the 2007 Madhes Andolan due to the former’s demand for one province spanning the whole of Tarai.

“The demand for an autonomous Tharuhat/Tharuwan province is legitimate on the land of the Tharu and Madhesi communities. We will support it,” said Yadav. He accused the major parties of hindering the talks and a constitution acceptable to all.

“The major parties cannot impose a constitution that does not meet the aspirations of Madhesis, Dalits, Janajatis and women expressed through past movements,” said Yadav.

Claiming that he was not against a new constitution, Yadav said the major parties should seek a political solution to the current problem instead of crushing dissent with force.