Modi's message

Indian Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar in Kathmandu on Friday as Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's special envoy. Photo: RSS

Indian Foreign Secretary S. Jaishankar held talks with various Nepali leaders across the political spectrum in Kathmandu on Friday.

Jaishankar had arrived in Kathmandu early Friday morning as Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's special envoy. Modi had decided to send him to Kathmandu after Nepal's Constituent Assembly (CA) endorsed the new constitution with two-thirds majority.

Jaishankar not only paid courtesy call on President Ram Baran Yadav and Prime Minister Sushil Koirala but also held separate talks with UML Chair KP Oli and UCPN (M) Chair Pushpa Kamal Dahal.

Jaishankar also invited top leaders of Joint Democratic Madhesi Front, an alliance of four Madhesi parties that have been spearheading a street movement against the new constitution in the Tarai, to the Indian Embassy in Lainchaur, Kathmandu.

Madhesi Front leader Mahendra Ray Yadav told Nepali Times that Jaishankar's visit to Kathmandu was 'necessary' because India was 'concerned' with violence in the Tarai.  "Thousands of people are now fleeing the Tarai and taking shelter in India to escape police's brutality," he said.  "What is happening in the Tarai is an Indian concern, too."

Yadav was among the Madhesi leaders who met Jaishankar and sought India's support in facilitating talks between the ruling and agitating parties over the new constitution. Besides him, Federal Socialist Forum Nepal (FSFN) Chair Upendra Yadav, Tarai Madhesi Democratic Party (TMDP) Chair Mahantha Thakur and Sadbhavana Party Chair Rajendra Mahato also met Jaishankar.

Madhesi leaders informed Jaishankar about their demands and 'how the state has been suppressing them' by deploying the army in the Tarai. "He (Jaishankar) just listened to us, and promised to talk to the ruling party leaders about it," Yadav said.

After meeting with Madhesi leaders, Jaishankar held a secret meeting with UML Chair Oli, who is all set to become new Prime Minister after promulgation of the constitution, in Balkot. UML Chief Whip Agni Kharel, one of Oli's confidantes, said that Jaishankar suggested promulgation of the new constitution only after reaching agreements with agitating political forces.

Ever since federal provinces were demarcated in the constitution, the Madhesis in the central Tarai, the Tharus in the western plains and the Janajatis in the eastern Nepal are up in arms. They are dissatisfied with boundaries of provinces and want revisions before passing the new constitution.

The Madhesis want southern parts of Jhapa, Morang an Sunsari in the Madhes province stretching between Parsa and Saptari, the Tharus want Kailali and Kanchanpur in the Tharuhat province stretching between Nawalparasi and Bardiya and the Janajatis want two provinces in the eastern Nepal.

Protests over the new constitution have turned violent and left more than 40 people dead in several parts of Nepal so far.

The ruling NC-UML and the main opposition UCPN (M) had invited the Madhesi and Tharu leaders for talks before beginning clause-wise vote on the constitution. While talks with Tharu leaders ended inconclusively, the Madhesi leaders rejected invitation for talks.

As Jaishanakr made efforts to broker a deal between the NC-UML-UCPN (M) and the Madhesi-Tharu leaders, around 90 per cent of the CA members signed on the new constitution on Friday. The CA Chair Subhas Nembang authenticated it. President Ram Baran Yadav is scheduled to promulgate it amidst a special function in the CA on Sunday next week.