Deadlock continues in Nepal

Kathmandu, Jul 3: A meeting of the key leaders of the three main parties including the CPN (Maoist), the Nepali Congress (NC) and the CPN (UML) which was which was expected to break the deadlock over the Terai parties' demands, has ended inconclusively on Wednesday, July 2 evening.

According to Nepalnews, the three parties appeared nowhere close to resolving their differences over the Terai parties' demand for autonomous Terai province and the group entry of Madhesis into the Nepal Army. During the meeting, the Maoist side emphasised that there should be a package solution to the demands of the Madhesis and others including the Dalits and indigenous groups. The UML reiterated that 'one Madhes' demand cannot be met and that issues like this could only be decided by the Constituent Assembly (CA).

Meanwhile, Nepali Congress (NC) remains undecided on the issues raised by the Terai parties.

Maoist chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda' said the major parties were now working to reach consensus on a package solution so that it left no room for groups other than the Madhesis to come forward with their respective agendas.

"The demand for 'group entry' of the Medhesis into the army needed to be defined clearly," he added.

ANI