Madhesi Janadhikar Forum –Loktantrik (MJF-L) Chairman Bijaya Gachhadar has remarked that the ball is in the court of big three political parties to resolve the crisis seen in Tarai. He said the constitution should be amended so as to address the demands of all the agitating parties. 

Talking to journalists after meeting the top brass leaders of big three political parties at his party office in Sanepa, Lalitpur on Tuesday, he said the Sanghiya Loktantrik Morcha has asked the three parties to come up with a concrete proposal for talks. 

“We have urged the top leaders to bring a concrete proposal. We will sit for dialogue,” said Gachhdar. 

He complained that the three political parties brought the new constitution on their own vision despite several initiatives on his part to ensure that the Madhes also have ownership of the new constitution. He alleged that the big political parties forcefully pushed the constitution without addressing the demands of Tharu, Madhes, and indigenous people. He said he raised objections over these issues during the meeting.

At the press meet, Gachhadar said the current situation is the result of failure to address the demands of Tarai though the new constitution has a lot of positive aspects such as federalism, republicanism, secularism, ethnic identity, and constitutional commission. 

“The situation in the country was a different before the promulgation of new constitution. But the now situation has turned worse. There is disagreement over the border of federal states. Let this issue be addressed immediately,” he said. 

Likewise, the big three party leaders had given assurance to hold concrete discussion before Prime Minister Sushil Koirala’s visit to attend United Nations General Assembly. PM Koirala is leaving for New York on Wednesday. The Morcha leaders requested PM Koirala not to go to America. 

Along with leader Gachhadar, MJF-L Vice Chairman Jitendra Dev, Rastriya Madhes Sadbhawan Party Chairman Sarat Singh Bhandari and Forum Ganatantrik Chairman Raj Kishor Yadav were present at the meeting.

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Prime Minister and Nepali Congress (NC) President Sushil Koirala is holding a meeting with Madhesi Janadhikar Forum-Loktantrik (MJF-L) Chairman Bijaya Gachhadar at the latter’s party office in Saneap, Lalitpur on Tuesday.

Two of the three top brass leaders, who reached out to the disgruntled leaders of (MJF-L), have left the meeting venue after holding talks for some time. 

Talking to reporters after the meeting, UML Chairman Oli, who walked out of the meeting at first, said the talks are positive. But he refused to divulge the details. 

UCPN (M) Chairman Dahal left the meeting shortly after Oli. He said they had already reached close to agreement with Gachhadar. “We were almost close to agreement with Gachhadar. Now the prime minister is trying to finalise the agreement,” said Dahal. He added he had to left early because of his prescheduled engagements.  

When asked about Indian government’s move to stop petroleum tankers at Raxaul entry point, Dahal said it was not the right time to speak about it has not come.

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Top brass leaders of big three political parties have reached out to the disgruntled leaders of Madhesi Janadhikar Forum-Loktantrik (MJF-L) on Monday. The leaders have started a meeting with the disgruntled leaders at the latter’s party office in Sanepa, Lalitpur. 

The MJF-L, a signatory of the 16-point agreement that paved the way for the promulgation of the new constitution, have dissociated from the alliance of big four political parties due to strong reservations over demarcation of state borders in the new federal set-up. 

Prime Minister Sushil Koirala, CPN-UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli, and UCPN (Maoist) Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal and UML Vice-chair Bidya Devi Bhandari reached Sanepa when the party leaders were holding an internal meeting. 

After a brief informal meeting, the two sides started talks. 

MJF-L Chairman Bijaya Kumar Gachhadar, leaders Sarat Singh Bhandari and Raj Kishor Yadav are representing the MJF-L at the meeting.

The MJF-L is preparing to announce protest programmes to express dissatisfaction with the promulgation of new constitution.