Nepal Prime Minister KP Oli had summoned an all-party meeting to discuss ways to resolve the Madhes crisis. (File photo)
An alliance of agitating Madhesi and other minority groups seeking more rights and representation in Nepal's new Constitution today snubbed Prime Minister KP Oli by boycotting an all-party meeting called by him to resolve the current political crisis.
Chairman of Samajbadi Forum and Chairman of the Sanghiya Gatbandhan, Upendra Yadav said he was not aware about the meeting.
"I came to know about the meeting convened by PM only after reading today s Kantipur daily. It wouldn't be appropriate to attend the meeting summoned through news report," Mr Yadav said.
"The PM has to make it clear why the meeting was called. He has to send formal invitation. PM Oli's manner of summoning the meeting doesn't seem right," Kathmandu Post quoted him as saying.
Though some of the leaders of alliance received SMS invitation for talks on their mobile phones, Mr Yadav said he did not receive any message and that he wouldn't go to attend the meeting based on SMS invitation.
Writing a special letter to 'Gathabandhan' leaders last night, Prime Minister Oli had summoned an all-party meeting for this morning to discuss ways to resolve the Madhes crisis.
All the political parties represented in Legislature- Parliament were invited at the meeting.
Sanghiya Gathabandhan has been organising protests in Kathmandu against the new Constitution.
The Madhesi forces had earlier also snubbed an all-party meeting called by PM Oli.
The chairman of Sadbhawana Party, Rajendra Mahato, today said the recent call for talks by the Prime Minister was a positive development but pointed out that it was not sufficient.
Speaking to reporters some hours after the all-party meeting, Mr Mahato said the UDMF was ready to sit for talks if the government responded to their demands.
The major demands of Madhesis, mostly of Indian-origin, include re-demarcation of the seven province model of federal structure, inclusiveness and proportionate representation of marginalised groups and ethnic minorities including the Madhesis, indigenous groups and Dalits in all the state bodies.
Madhesis earlier had launched six-month-long agitation from September to February in which more than 50 people were killed. The agitation had also crippled the landlocked country's economy as supplies from India were blocked.
Nepal had accused India of imposing an "economic blockade", which India strongly denied.
The alliance has this time changed its strategy and focused their protest in the capital city in an attempt to draw attention of the government and other stakeholders to their demands.