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Govt-MJF talks inconclusive

The second round of talks between the government and Madhesi Janadhikar Forum (MJF) held at a resort in Dhulikhel, Kavre district, on Wednesday ended inconclusively.

Peace and Reconstruction Minister Ram Chandra Poudel, who heads the government's talk team, said the talks focused on preparing ground for a compromise on key issues, and implementing the 20-point understanding reached in the first round of talks held in Janakpur on June 1st.

Next round of dialogue will be held on Saturday, he said.

MJF vice-chairman Kishor Kumar Bishwas, one of the MJF negotiators, said, “The government side said it needed two days for homework on the issues raised by our party.” According to him, the MJF reiterated its demands, which includes "constitutional guarantee of federal system of governance with autonomy" and fully proportional electoral system for constituent assembly polls.

“We have been raising these issues from the very beginning. None of the demands are new,” he further said. The three-hour long meeting held amidst tight security did enter into these demands, but there was no serious debate on them.

The government talk team also comprised of state ministers Ram Chandra Yadav and Gyanendra Karki while the MJF team was represented by party chairman Upendra Yadav, vice-chairman Bishwas, Sitanandan Raya and Nasir Siddiqui.

Earlier, upon arriving at the venue, MJF leaders had said they didn’t expect any breakthrough in today’s talks.

“Since the government has not implemented what was agreed in the Janakpur meeting, we have little hope for a breakthrough,” Bishwas said. nepalnews.com mk July 25 07