The opposition Nepali Congress has decided to take a lead in talks with the agitating Madhesi Morcha in order to seek a solution to the prolonged Tarai unrest.

A meeting of the NC office bearers and some Central Working Committee members reached a decision on Friday that the party would make efforts in Parliament and outside to end the political standoff. The NC top brass will hold talks with the agitating Samyukta Loktantrik Madhesi Morcha on Saturday. The SLMM has already urged the largest party to take initiatives to resolve the crisis.

The meeting decided to move the bill registered in Parliament to address the demands of the agitating parties, said NC spokesman Dilendra Prasad Badu. The NC-led government had tabled a bill to ensure inclusive proportional representation of indigenous communities. The NC will take measures including House obstruction to ensure the passage of the bill, said Badu.

The party also decided not to take part in the high-level mechanism and dialogue committee formed by the government. It would, however, attend meetings among political parties, said Badu.

In order to seek a political solution to the agitation in Tarai, the party would hold meetings of its Madhesi parliamentarians, Tarai-based Members of Parliament from various parties and the agitating Madhesi Morcha.

NC leaders allege that the government was not serious about addressing the demands and grievances of the agitating parties.

Almost all the central members attending the meeting had warned of a looming humanitarian crisis due to a shortage of drugs and urged the party leadership to hold talks with India to end the blockage.

The party also urged the ruling alliance not to revoke political appointments made by the NC-led government. Besides, it expressed concerns over the agitation in Nepal Rastra Bank where a trade union aligned with the ruling CPN-UML has halted services.

The largest party has warned of non-cooperation in appointments to constitutional bodies if the ruling alliance does not uphold the political appointments made by the NC-led Cabinet. The main opposition has representation in the Constitutional Council that recommends constitutional body candidates.

Apart from pressing political issues, the NC also urged the ruling alliance to seek consensus while passing the National Reconstruction Authority Bill. The NC government had tabled a replacement bill in Parliament but the failure to pass it led to an invalidation of the authority formed through an ordinance due to opposition from the UML and the UCPN (Maoist). Govinda Raj Pokhrel was appointed the CEO of the Reconstruction Authority. The NC also demanded continuation of Pokhrel.

A Cabinet meeting on Thursday had decided to hand over the responsibility of reconstruction to the National Planning Commission until the Authority is reformed.

The party has reservations about the decision that the NPC cannot take up

reconstruction works.