The government has formed a talks team headed by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Kamal Thapa to hold dialogue with the agitating Madhesi/Tharu groups including Samyukta Loktantrik Madhesi Morcha (SLMM). 

The talks panel formed by the Cabinet meeting on Monday includes Law Minister Agni Kharel from CPN-UML, General Administration Minister Rekha Sharma from UCPN (Maoist) and Minister without portfolio Ram Janam Chaudhary from Madhesi Janadhikar Forum-Loktantrik. 

A member from the opposition Nepali Congress would be included in the talks panel, Minister Chaudhary told the post. 

“The meeting has charged the prime minister with the responsibility to add a member by holding talks with the Nepali Congress,” said Chaudhary. “The talks panel will get full shape after naming a Congress member.”

The talks team formed by the previous NC led government under former Forest Minister Mahesh Acharya had held several rounds of informs talks with the agitating groups.

Prime Minister KP Oli on Friday (October 16) formally invited the disgruntled parties to come for talks. 

In response to PM’s invitation letter, the Madhesi Morcha said though they are ready to sit for talks they could not call off their agitation. The Madhesi front had formed a four-member talks panel including Laxman Lal Karna, Sarbendranath Sukla. 

“Firstly, we will create an environment conducive for talks,” said Minister Chaudhary. “We will sit for talks only after settling the technical issues.” He claimed that there won’t be any problems for creating the environment for talks since the prime minister has given the go-ahead.