Govt., UDMF strike the deal, strike called off

After the several rounds of discussions, the government and Unified Democratic Madheshi Front (UDMF) have signed the pact today.

Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala has signed in eight point pact on behalf of government and Madheshi leaders Mahantha Thakur, Upendra Yadav and Rajendra Mahato have signed in the pact on behalf of UDMF.

Speaking at a press conference after finalizing the points of agreement, Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala said that he was committed to implement the agreement. The PM also urged all the Madheshi leaders and people to converge the concentration on Constituent Assembly (CA) elections. 

In the agreement, both of the parties have agreed to implement autonomous federal structure and power sharing through Constituent Assembly (CA). 

Despite reaching the common ground of understanding, UDMF talks team had walked out of meeting yesterday as prime minister Girija Prasad Koirala didn't sign the agreement paper. UDMF leaders had insisted that they were not entrusted to the signature of peace and reconstruction minister Ram Chandra Paudel.

With the signing of the eight point pact, UDMF has withdrawn indefinite Terai strike which had been crippling life through out the country since 16 days.

The government has agreed to make appointments of army inclusive on proportional basis including Madheshi, Dalit and indigenous nationalities. The Madheshi leaders had demanded collective entry in Nepal Army. Similarly, the government has also agreed to declare martyrs to those killed during Terai movement and provide sum of one million rupees to each family of 'martyrs', withdraw cases filed against the participants of  Madhesh movement and call other armed forces of Terai in talks. 

The Madheshi leaders have agreed to hold CA elections in 10 April. For filing the nomination of candidacies for CA elections based on the first the past-the post elections system and submission of closed lists of candidates based on proportional electoral system, the government will request the Elections Commission to open submission and registration of parties.