Talks between govt and Tharuhat Struggle Committee underway

KATHMANDU: Talks between the government and the agitating Tharuhat Struggle Committee, including the Tharu Welfare Assembly is underway in Kathmandu.

Talks have started between the struggle committee and the government negotiating team at the Home Ministry to discuss issues including the release of Samajwadi Party lawmaker Resham Chaudhary.

The government had formed a three-member negotiating team under the coordination of Home Minister Thapa on March 29. Other members on the government side are foreign Adviser to Prime Minister Dr Rajan Bhattarai and former lawmaker Bhagwati Chaudhary.

A dialogue team comprising Premlal Chaudhary, Padam Narayan Chaudhary, Chandra Bahadur Chaudhary and Prabhat Chaudhary has been formed under the coordination of Rukmini Chaudhary on behalf of the Tharuhat/Tharuwan Joint Struggle Committee Central Movement Mobilization Committee.

Earlier, comprehending the demands of the agitating Tharu Welfare Assembly, Tharuhat/Tharuwan Joint Struggle Committee, and Central Movement Mobilization Committee, Home Minister Thapa had said that the government was serious about addressing the 19-point demands, including the Tikapur incident, of the Tharu community.

The agitating front has demanded that the case filed against Tharu Welfare Assembly Chairperson Dhaniram Chaudhary, Resham Chaudhary, and others in the Tikapur incident should be withdrawn, those killed during the Tharuhat agitation be declared martyrs, and separate reservations be made for the Tharu community in various state bodies including the Public Service Commission.