President discusses Tarai unrest with former President Yadav, former Vice President Jha

KATHMANDU: President Ram Chandra Paudel held a meeting with Nepal’s first President, Dr. Ram Baran Yadav, and the country’s first Vice President, Parmananda Jha, at his official residence on Friday.

The three leaders discussed the deteriorating situation in Kaptangunj of Dewangunj Rural Municipality in Sunsari, as well as the recent unrest in several districts of the Tarai-Madhesh region, according to the President’s Press Adviser Kiran Pokharel.

They expressed concern over the recent incidents and stressed the need for collective efforts to preserve the centuries-old traditions of social, religious and ethnic harmony, tolerance, and national unity, he added.

During the meeting, former President Yadav said the government should work with all political parties, civil society, religious leaders and the general public to resolve the current crisis.

The unrest, which began in Dewangunj Rural Municipality of Sunsari, has spread to several districts of Madhesh Province. Various stakeholders have stepped up efforts to prevent tensions between the two communities from escalating further.

On Thursday evening, Prime Minister Balendra Shah met President Paudel to discuss the unrest in the Tarai-Madhesh region. It was Shah’s first meeting with the president since assuming office as prime minister on March 27.

Prime Minister Shah also held separate meetings with leaders of Madhesh-centric political parties and lawmakers of the ruling Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) representing Madhesh Province on Friday.