Nepal govt talks with Madhesi groups inconclusive

Talks between representatives of the Nepal government and the Joint Democratic Madhesi Front (JDMF) to resolve the political impasse over the country's new Constitution ended inconclusively here today.
The talks held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs ended without making any headway as both sides remain adamant on their stances, according to officials.
The major demands of the Madhesi Front are to re-draw the demarcation of the federal provinces and inclusion of more rights and representation to the Indian-origin Madhesi people.
Other demands include martyrdom status to those killed during recent protests, free treatment to the injured, compensation to victims' families and withdrawal of security forces from Terai districts among others.

The alliance has been staging protests in various parts of southern Nepal against the seven-province model of the newly-promulgated Constitution for more then two months.
The southern plains of landlocked Nepal have been simmering with tension since the Constitution was formally adopted on September 20.
Madhesi parties - who claim to represent the interests of the Indian-origin inhabitants of Nepal's Terai region - and Tharu ethnic groups have been agitating against the charter which they see as flawed and discriminatory to their interests.
Over 40 people have died in the violent agitation that has also overwhelmed Indo-Nepal ties as transit of goods and fuel to the Himalayan nation from India via the major border trading points has been badly affected.