The agitating parties have once again dismissed the government call to resume dialogue to resolve the political deadlock, saying that Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli “is not serious” about addressing their demands.

The government on Sunday wrote to the Samyukta Loktantrik Madhesi Morcha (SLMM), claiming that “it is eager to resolve the present deadlock”.

The Morcha had earlier declined three invitations from the government.

The Morcha and Janajati forces, which have formed the Sanghiya Gathabandhan, are currently staging a relay hunger strike in Khula Manch as part of their Kathmandu-centric protest.

They have accused the government of creating media buzz rather than working to break the stalemate.

Leaders of the agitating parties say there is no possibility of dialogue unless their three preconditions-withdrawing cases against their cadres, declaring those killed during Madhes protests martyrs and providing treatment expenses to those injured during the protests—are addressed.

“Months have passed since the government promised to address [our] concerns, but no progress has been made so far,” said Hridayesh Tripathi, vice-chair of the Tarai Madhes Loktantrik Party (TMLP). “How can we trust the government?”

As many as 55 people, including nine security personnel, were killed and scores were injured during the five-month-long Tarai protests led by the Morcha.

Though the government in the second week of March released Rs 3.1 million for the treatment of those injured during the protests and provided Rs 1 million each to the families of those who died during the protests, the agitating parties have claimed that the money is yet to reach the victims.

The agitating parties are also not happy with the government for inviting only the Morcha, and not the Sanghiya Gathabandhan, for talks. The government’s Sunday’s letter is also addressed to the Morcha, which is an alliance of seven Madhes-based parties.

There are altogether 29 parties in the Sanghiya Gathabandhan and leaders are demanding that the government invite all these parties, not only those Madhes-based parties which are in the Morcha.

“The government should invite all the parties under the Gathabandhan if it indeed is willing to hold dialogue,” said Ashok Rai, senior leader of the Sanghiya Samajbadi Forum-Nepal. “We will take a formal decision about the government letter after our meeting,” he added.

The agitating parties have so far held as many as 36 rounds of talks, but without any progress.

The Gathabandhan leaders have long been accusing the government of not being serious about holding serious talks to resolve the crisis facing the country.