Join the new Govt: Koirala asks Terai leaders

Kathmandu, Aug 6: Nepal's caretaker Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala on Wednesday, Aug 6 met leaders of the Terai Madhes Loktantrik Party (TMLP) and the Sadbhawana Party at his residence in Baluwatar separately.

During the meeting Koirala asked them to review their earlier decision and join the new Government to be formed with consensus. In response, TMLP chairman Mahanta Thakur said that the decision would be taken after looking at the Common Minimum Programme (CMP) and position of a new Government regarding the demands of the terai-based parties.

Koirala will also meet with other fringe parties including the CPN (ML) and the Rastriya Parajatantra Party (RPP) later today.

Koirala also informed the leaders about his meetings with the Indian and Sri Lankan leaders during the 15th SAARC summit.

Earlier, Nepali Congress leader Dr Prakash Sharan Mahat said that despite internal political disputes, Koirala''s visit to Colombo to attend the 15th SAARC summit was successful in restoring the nation''s image at the regional level.

Dr Mahat told reporters that the SAARC Summit had concluded with a collective resolve to effectively implement in practice all its declarations and bring visible changes for the welfare of the people of the region.

Dr. Mahat said that to increase agricultural productivity stress has been placed on improved technology. A SAARC food bank will be created to overcome the existing food crisis.

He further said that the summit had decided to hold a ministerial level meeting in November to work out details for its early operation.

He also informed that the summit had decided not to provide observer status to more countries for the next three years, Nepalnews reported. .

ANI