Nepal’s Prime Minister Sushil Koirala today cancelled his plans to visit the US to attend the UN General Assembly session amid a raging political crisis in the country over the new Constitution that has triggered protests in areas bordering India.
Koirala cancelled his visit to hold talks with the Madhesi and other regional groups opposed to the Constitution adopted on Sunday. Madhesis are Indian-origin people living on the foothills of Nepal’s Terai region.
The cancellation of the visit comes two days after India expressed concern over the violence in Terai districts and asked the government to resolve the issue politically through peaceful means of dialogue instead of using force.
Now, Deputy Prime Minister and Nepali Congress general secretary Prakash Man Singh will lead the country’s delegation to the UN.
“I have to lead the Nepalese delegation to New York, as Prime Minister Koirala has important task of holding talks with the agitating Madhesi parties at home,” Prakash said before flying to the US.
Foreign Minister Mahendra Bahadur Pandey and other officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs included in the delegation.
The Madhesi parties are opposed to the new Constitution adopted through the Constituent Assembly.
More than 40 persons have died in southern and western Nepal where Madhesi parties and Tharu ethnic groups have been protesting for more than a month over splitting the country into seven provinces. They are demanding more rights and representation to the marginalised communities as well as reforms in the current citizenship regulations.
Koirala cancelled his visit to hold talks with the Madhesi and other regional groups opposed to the Constitution adopted on Sunday. Madhesis are Indian-origin people living on the foothills of Nepal’s Terai region.
The cancellation of the visit comes two days after India expressed concern over the violence in Terai districts and asked the government to resolve the issue politically through peaceful means of dialogue instead of using force.
Now, Deputy Prime Minister and Nepali Congress general secretary Prakash Man Singh will lead the country’s delegation to the UN.
“I have to lead the Nepalese delegation to New York, as Prime Minister Koirala has important task of holding talks with the agitating Madhesi parties at home,” Prakash said before flying to the US.
Foreign Minister Mahendra Bahadur Pandey and other officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs included in the delegation.
The Madhesi parties are opposed to the new Constitution adopted through the Constituent Assembly.
More than 40 persons have died in southern and western Nepal where Madhesi parties and Tharu ethnic groups have been protesting for more than a month over splitting the country into seven provinces. They are demanding more rights and representation to the marginalised communities as well as reforms in the current citizenship regulations.
