UCPN (M) rejects 'one Madhes' demand

The Unified CPN (Maoist) Saturday ruled out 'one Madesh province', as demanded by United Democratic Madhesi Front (UDMF), an alliance of four Madhesi parties, in their 'common paper' for extending support in new government formation.

Submitting the party's 'commitment paper' on the terms of the Madhesi Front during a meeting held at Madhesi Janadhikar Forum's parliamentary party office in Singha Durbar, the UCPN-M made it clear that such a demand cannot be met.

However, the Maoist party said that other provinces including autonomous province in the Terai-Madhes with the right to self-determination without hampering territorial integrity is acceptable to it.

"We have some reservations," Maoist vice chairman Narayan Kaji Shrestha told reporters after the meeting, "We do not support to mention multi-lateralism in the constitution and the demand for disclosing the number of combatants to be integrated at this juncture is not practical."

However, the Maoists have accepted other demands of the UDMF including the completion of PLA integration and adjustment before promulgating the new constitution.

"We will sit again with the leaders of Madhesi parties for further discussions once they unveil their response," Shrestha said.

Meanwhile, JP Gupta, vice chairman of MJF said it was too early to make a comment without the detail analysis of the Maoist commitment paper.

"We will clarify our position only after we sit together to analyse the Maoist commitment paper," Gupta said. He also mentioned that the UDMF would come up with its response very soon. nepalnews.com