Political delegation from Madhesh Province presents six-point memo to PM Dahal

KATHMANDU, Nov 9: A delegation comprising the Madhesh Province Chief Minister and leaders from the coalition partners today called on Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda' and submitted a six-point memorandum calling for the effective implementation of federalism. 

Through the memorandum, the delegation drew the government's attention towards the 'non-implementation' of federalism. It demands that the Federal Civil Service Act should have the provision of keeping a secretary to be assigned in the province under the subordination of the province government.

The delegation has sought the devolution of the authority of Guthi management and 30 and 20 percent ownership of the province and local governments respectively to the revenue collection from the value-added tax and excise duty through the amendment of laws.

Similarly, it has proposed the government to amend the law and give the prosecution authority relating to penalties and imprisonment to the province government.  

Madhesh Province Chief and Janata Samajbadi Parliamentary Party leader Saroj Kumar Yadav said they would be compelled to come up with programmes of peaceful protests if the demands were not addressed by the next 30 days.

In response, the Prime Minister acknowledged the demands as 'genuine', pledging to make maximum efforts to address them soon, according to Yadav.   

Province ministers Krishna Prasad Yadav, Mahesh Prasad Yadav and Govinda Bahadur Neupane and Democratic Socialist Party parliamentary leader Abhiram Sharma, CPN (Maoist) Center's Bharat Shah and Kanchan Bichchha of Rastriya Prajatantra Party were among those in the delegation.