Nepal’s anti-Constitution protesters set fresh conditions for talks

Protesters demanding changes to Nepal’s new Constitution have put forward fresh conditions to the government for talks to end a 10-month-long impasse on the statute.

Published on: Jun 17, 2016, 15:22:25 IST

Hindustan Times | By Utpal Parashar, Kathmandu

Prefer HTon Google

Share via

Copy link

Protesters demanding changes to Nepal’s new Constitution have put forward fresh conditions to the government for talks to end a 10-month-long impasse on the statute.

The fresh list of demands, including several submitted to the government earlier, was the alliance’s response to a new call for talks made by Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli’s government (AFP file photo)

The Federal Alliance, which comprises more than two dozen groups from the Madhes region bordering India and other indigenous and marginalised communities, has refused to join talks till the demands are met.

“The government’s failure to take any concrete steps on the list of demands we had given earlier shows that they are not interested to solve the issue through talks,” said a statement issued by the alliance on Thursday night.

The fresh list of demands, including several submitted to the government earlier, was the alliance’s response to a new call for talks made by Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli’s government.

The anti-Constitution protests began in August last year and there have been nearly three dozen rounds of talks between the government and protesters, but no solution has emerged yet.

Violent protests between September last year and February in the regions bordering India, where protesters were seeking fresh demarcation of federal states, left 55 dead, including policemen.

The protesters, who had blocked key border trade routes with India for five months, have resorted to other methods of protest, including rallies and relay hunger strikes.

The protesters are demanding, among other things, implementation of past deals with them, free treatment of people injured in protests, compensation for the families of those killed and a judicial inquiry into alleged killings by security forces.

The withdrawal of cases against protesters, unconditional release of those imprisoned and the amendment of the Constitution to address its demands are other terms put forward by the alliance.

“If the government creates conducive atmosphere by addressing these demands, we are ready to sit for result-oriented talks,” the statement said.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Utpal Parashar
A seasoned senior journalist, I have nearly three decades of experience across print, digital, and online platforms, covering political transitions, insurgencies, environmental issues, and development stories in India and Nepal. I am skilled in breaking news, leading editorial teams and launch of newspaper editions. I am adept at leveraging digital trends and social media to expand global reach, with a strong ethical foundation and a reputation for impactful journalism. An alumnus of Asian College of Journalism, I joined Hindustan Times in New Delhi as a trainee reporter in May 1997. Over the years, I have been posted in Dehradun, Kathmandu (Nepal) and Guwahati. Currently, as Senior Assistant Editor at Hindustan Times, I lead a team reporting on India’s northeastern states. My work involves in-depth analysis, and engaging multimedia storytelling across formats, including text, photo, video, and interactive content. I am skilled in producing timely, shareable content, leveraging digital platforms and social media to engage global audiences. Throughout my career with the Hindustan Times, I have led diverse editorial teams, designed capacity-building activities, and supported reporters in developing strong story ideas, ethical reporting practices, digital skills, and fact-checking techniques. As Senior Assistant Editor for Northeast India, I have been responsible for guiding correspondents through complex political, humanitarian, and community-level stories using multimedia formats. Earlier, as Foreign Correspondent in Nepal, I produced extensive reporting during Nepal’s democratic transition and the 2015 earthquake and its aftermath.Read More

Get the latest World News, breaking headlines and global updates from the US, UK, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Russia and other countries. Follow major international events on Hindustan Times.