One of the reasons the agitating Madhes-based parties agreed to extend support to a new alliance of the CPN (Maoist Centre) and the Nepali Congress (NC) was that they had promised to address their concerns by amending the constitution.

The Maoist-NC government is believed to working to register a constitution amendment proposal before September 15, the day Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal will embark on his visit to India.

But the Madhes-based parties are increasingly getting sceptical. They fear that their “legitimate concerns” might be ignored once again as they believe the government “appears more keen to mend ties with India than addressing their concerns”. As a result, there could be an “incomplete amendment” again, they say.

Madhesi parties have already expressed their dissatisfaction at the government for “giving undue importance” to India. 

Madhesi leaders suspect that the government “has already reached an understanding with New   Delhi on the constitution amendment” without even starting formal talks at home to end the political standoff.

The CPN-UML, the second largest party in Parliament, has been making similar claims. UML leaders claim that PM Dahal sent a letter to his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi making categorical assurance that he would push for constitution amendment.

Earlier, the UML-led government too had submitted a similar proposal to New Delhi. The agitating parties had then also accused the UML led government of disregarding them. Madhesi leaders said the Maoist Centre and the NC should hold sincere and open negotiations with the agitating parties in order to find a lasting solution to the current crisis.

Sarbendra Nath Shukla of Tarai Madhes Loktantrik Party (TMLP) said that the government should void the mistake the UML-led government made by submitting the four-point non-paper to New Delhi while ignoring the agitating parties.

He said that the issues related to the constitution are Nepal’s internal affairs and solution lies within.

“It’s our internal problem and it cannot be resolved without consensus among domestic political forces.

The constitution should be amended to seek permanent solution to the crisis,” said Shukla.

He, however, said that the agitating parties have found the NC and the Maoist Centre more sincere in resolving the crisis than the previous government.

“The Samyukta Loktantrik Madhesi Morcha is hopeful about reaching an agreement in next few weeks,” he said.

“We have found them serious during informal negotiations.

It won’t be difficult to register an amendment proposal if they worked in the similar spirit,” said hukla. Morcha leaders appear worried that rapprochement between New Delhi and Kathmandu could overshadow their concerns.

TMLP Vice-chairman Brishesh Chandra Lal said the government should make sincere efforts to address the concerns of the agitating parties without delay.

“Having friendly relations with neighbouring countries is a good thing, but we should not forget the fact that issues related to the constitution are our internal matters,” he said.