Several Madhesi leaders from fringe parties have arrived in New Delhi, ahead of Sunday’s visit of Samyukta Loktantrik Madhesi Morcha’s top leaders who are scheduled to discuss the political situation of Nepal with the leaders of India’s ruling and opposition parties.

Leaders from fringe parties protesting under different banners have also called on Indian Minister for External Affairs Sushma Swaraj.  The leaders are also using diplomatic channels to arrange meetings with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other senior political leaders.

“I came after New Delhi invited our alliance to discuss Madhes issues and our concerns. I also got an opportunity to inform about the ground reality in Madhes,” said Raj Kishore Yadav of Madhesi Janadhikar Forum-Ganatantrik. The party, which has one seat in the Parliament, is currently affiliated with the Sanghiya Samabeshi Madhesi Morcha, a recently formed alliance of four fringe Madhes-based parties. Second-rung leaders of Madhesi parties have been attending various conferences in New Delhi.

Yadav said that he came to learn about “the double standard of leaders of Nepal’s major parties” after his talks with Swaraj. He claimed that Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs Kamal Thapa had assured the Indian side that the government was ready to address all the concerns of the Madhesi and other communities.

“I told her [Swaraj] how his [Thapa’s] tone changed after his Delhi visit,” said Yadav.

Top SLMM leaders—Mahantha Thakur, Upendra Yadav, Rajendra Mahato and Mahendra Yadav—are scheduled to take part in a discussion programme titled ‘The Future of Constitutional Democracy in Nepal’ organised by the Observer Research Foundation on December 8.