First round of talks between govt and Biplav group over

KATHMANDU: The first round of talks between the government and Netra Bikram Chand-led outfit held in the capital has ended.

The two sides held talks for about one and a half hours at the Prime Minister’s residence in Baluwatar on Wednesday morning.

Dr Rajan Bhattarai said that the talks are moving in a positive direction.

No details have been revealed yet.

Biplav’s team is comprised of the group’s Spokesperson Khadga Bahadur Bishwokarma ‘Prakanda’ and Central Committee member Uday Chalaune “Deepak”.

Similarly, the government’s talks team is led by Home Minister Ram Bahadur Thapa in which Prime Minister KP Oli’s Foreign Affairs Advisor Dr Rajan Bhattarai is a member of the committee.

The team arrived in Kathmandu on Tuesday. According to sources, Prakand and Chalaune had entered Baluwatar on Wednesday morning while Home Minister Thapa reached Baluwatar at around 9 am and the talks started at around 9.30 am.

The government had banned the Biplav group in 2019 citing what it said “terrorist” activities.

A recent cabinet meeting had decided to initiate talks with the group to bring them to the peace process.