The Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Friday said that the meeting on Thursday between the Sanghiya Gathabandhan, an alliance of Madhesi and Janajati forces, and some members of the Kathmandu-based diplomatic corps is not compatible with the letter and spirit of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, established diplomatic practices and code of conduct.

The ministry came up with the statement after questions were raised about the agitating parties’ consultation with some Kathmandu-based diplomats on their ongoing protest programmes.

The Foreign Ministry spokesperson said that the government was not informed about the event. Madhesi and Janajati forces affiliated to the Gathabandhan, a tactical alliance between fringe Madhes-based parties and indigenous forces, on Thursday held a meeting with the diplomatic community and major international donors in their bid to drum up support for their identity movement.

The meeting was focused on the shortcomings of the new constitution, the protesters’ struggle for greater autonomy and the atrocities carried out by the state forces during the Tarai agitation. Such engagements essentially in internal matters of Nepal without the knowledge of the government are regrettable, said the spokesperson. He expressed his hope that all the diplomatic missions and their members carry out their functions in a manner consistent with their responsibilities.

Representatives of the diplomatic missions of China, India, the United States, the European Union, the United Nations, the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank in Kathmandu were present during the meeting.