A key meeting of Nepal Parliament was postponed for nearly two weeks after agitating Madhesi parties obstructed proceedings for a second day today, demanding that the government should address their issues in the new Constitution which has triggered political unrest.
Lawmakers of eight parties including four constituents of the United Democratic Madhesi Front in the Parliament obstructed the House meeting today, chanting slogans against the government.
They had also obstructed business at the Parliament yesterday, asking the government to meet their demands at the earliest.
Following the protests, Speaker Onsari Gharti first adjourned the meeting till 3 PM but the agitating lawmakers again resorted to sloganeering, thereby halting the House business again.
The Parliament meeting was adjourned for November 22.
Meanwhile, the talks scheduled to take place between the government representatives and the Madhesi parties today were postponed.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs Kamal Thapa, who heads the government talks team, told media that the meeting was postponed due to lack of proper homework.
Madhesis, Indian-origin inhabitants of Nepal's Terai region, are protesting division of their ancestral homeland in the new Constitution.
The agitation close to the main trading point near Raxaul has halted supply of essential goods, causing acute shortage of fuel in Nepal.
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.
