A day after signs of some thaw in relations between the Samyukta Loktantrtik Madhesi Morcha and three major parties, the Madhes-based forces on Friday seemed to be blowing hot and cold, even as the Nepali Congress refused to budge from its stance. As a result, Friday’s meeting between the SLMM and three major parties ended without making much headway. 

The Madhes-based parties on Friday stood against NC’s call to table the Constituent Amendment Bill in Parliament along with the Reconstruction Authority Bill. The SLMM leaders during a meeting with the coalition partners—the CPN-UML and UCPN (Moist) and the main opposition Nepali Congress—on Thursday had agreed to help in the passage of the Reconstruction Authority Bill.

“The government has not come up with its position on our 11-point demand,” said Sanghiya Samajbadi Forum-Nepal Chairman Upendra Yadav. “The meeting ended without discussing much on issues.” As soon as the government shared its plan with the SLMM about tabling the Constituent Amendment Bill, the first part of the three-point proposal prepared by the government to end the current standoff, the Madhesi leaders objected to it. 

Government sources said efforts were being made to table the Reconstruction Authority Bill and Constitution Amendment bill by Sunday by forging consensus between the NC and agitating Madhes-based parties. 

House put off till tomorrow

KATHMANDU: The scheduled meeting of the Legislature-Parliament was postponed on Friday following differences between the main opposition Nepali Congress and Madhes-based parties over tabling of the Constitution Amendment Bill. 

The meeting called for 3pm was postponed till Sunday after the NC sought time to negotiate with the Madhes-based parties who objected to NC’s demand that the Constitution Amendment Bill be tabled along with the Reconstruction Authority Bill. The Madhes-based parties on Thursday had agreed to let the government table the Reconstruction Authority Bill. “We held talks with Madhesi parties for tabling both the bills together,” said NC leader Bimalendra Nidhi.