Major Nepalese parties hold talks with dissenting parties to end protests

The three major political parties of Nepal have resumed talks with the Madhes-based parties Tuesday in the hope of ending the two-month long protests in the southern plains.

The meeting, held at the country's administrative center, Singha Durbar, is expected to find a way to settle the political unrest the Himalayan country has been experiencing for the past two months.

The dialogue team consists of leaders of the top three parties, Nepali Congress, CPN UML and Unified CPN Maoist, and the Joint Madhesi Front.

More than 40 people have already lost their lives in the Terai belt of Nepal as a result of protests that have entered to 52nd day on Tuesday.

Madhes-based parties are protesting to express their dissatisfaction over various issues of new constitution including the seven-model federal set-up. They had even boycotted the constitution writing process.

The Joint Madhesi Front said that it has submitted its 35-point demands to the dialogue team including the issues of delineation of federal provinces, inclusive representation, determination of election constituency on the basis of population, citizenship, access to judiciary among others.

Life has been crippled in the southern belts of Nepal for the last 52 days as all the markets, educational institutions, transportation and industries have halted their operation. Endi