A meeting of Sanghiya Gathabandhan has urged the government to come up with a clear strong basis for addressing their demands before sitting at the talks table.

The meeting was held at the Tinkune-based office of Sanghiya Samajwadi Forum Nepal on Thursday to weigh up Prime Minister’s talks offer.

Gathabandhan’s spokesperson Om Gurung said the meeting has asked the government to commit to address their 26-point demand.

A meeting of Samyukta Loktantrik Madhesi Morcha (SLMM) is underway at Forum Nepal’s office to discuss PM’s talks invitation after the meeting of Gathabandhan ended today.

Leaders affiliated to Janajati parties, including SSFN, expressed concern that PM KP Oli’s talks invitation was addressed only to Madhesi Morcha. They took stand that the letter should be addressed to the Gathabandhan instead to the Samyukta Loktantrik Madhesi Morcha (SLMM). It is to be noted that the parties of Madhesi Morcha and Janajati forces joined hands to form the Gathabandhan.

However, parties affiliated to Madhesi Morcha—TMLP, Sadbhawana, Forum Ganatantrik, Nepal Sadbhawana, among other Madhes-based parties—opined that, since all struggles and agitations till date were staged by the Morcha, PM’s letter addressing it should be taken in a positive manner.

Writing a letter on June 12, PM Oli had called on the parties affiliated to Madhesi Morcha to come for dialogue. The letter polarised the constituting parties of Morcha and Gathabandhan. Morcha opines that talks with government should be focused on their 11-point demand submitted on November last year while Gathabandhan seeks deliberation on their 26-point demand. This has raised serious questions over the collaboration between 29 parties of the Gathabandhan that also includes parties from Madhesi Morcha.