Ahead of the upcoming polls, Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala has invited four Terai-based militant outfits to the political mainstream.
Senior officials in the Ministry of Home Affairs told Hindustan Times that the first round of peace talk is set to begin in Janakpur on Friday. A four-member team has been nominated to begin the first round of negotiations.
Led by Nepal’s peace and reconstruction minister Ram Chandra Poudel, the team flew to Janakpur on Thursday afternoon for the talks.
Leaders of the four underground organisations — Madhesh Mukti Tigers, Terai Cobra, Samyukta Jantantrik Terai Mukti Morcha and Rajan Mukti-led faction of Janatantrik Tarai Mukti Morcha — have agreed for the dialogue.
Rajan Mukti would lead the team of insurgents, the officials claimed. Earlier, the armed groups had demanded that the government should release their arrested comrades and withdraw cases filed against them to create a “conducive atmosphere” for holding talks.
Koirala announced “free-passage” to the leaders of the four pro-talk insurgent outfits, and claimed that the government would be responsible for their safety of the insurgent leaders.
However, the Jwala Singh faction of Janatantrik Terai Mukti Morcha and All Terai Mukti Morcha have refused to bow down.