BIRATNAGAR, June 7: The Koshi provincial government has formed a committee to hold talks with the identity supporters who are expressing dissatisfaction with the name of the province.

A three-member negotiation committee was formed under the leadership of Minister for Drinking Water, Irrigation, and Energy of Koshi Province, Til Kumar Menyangbo Limbu, during the cabinet meeting held on Wednesday.

The members of the Negotiation Committee are Agriculture and Cooperatives Minister Bhakti Prasad Sitaula and Minister for Social Development of Koshi Province, Buddhi Kumar Rajbhandari. Since the Provincial Assembly meeting on March 1, where the province was named Koshi, identity supporters have been stating a series of protests. One person has died during the protests, and many others have been injured in clashes with the police personnel.

Chief Minister Karki, who initially stated that there would be no discussion regarding the name, called for talks with the protesters after the government fell into minority. With the main ruling party, CPN (Maoist Center), withdrawing its support on Tuesday, the fall of the government led by Chief Minister Karki became certain. Following the confirmation of the government's collapse, Karki formed the negotiation committee on Wednesday.

Buddhi Kumar Rajbhandari, a member of the government negotiation team, stated that if the dissatisfied parties also form a committee, talks can take place immediately. "The government has formed a negotiation committee and is ready to negotiate," he said.

The protesting parties, dissatisfied with the province's name, have been demanding the government to form a negotiation committee and address their demands through talks. However, the parties that are unhappy with the province's name have not yet formed a committee for negotiations.

During the Council of Ministers' meeting on Wednesday, it was decided to submit a bill to the Provincial Assembly to replace the Provincial Civil Service Act 2079 BS (First Amendment) Ordinance, 2080 BS, and another bill to replace the ordinance regulating the formation, operation, and service conditions of local services. Additionally, the meeting approved the Koshi Province Electronic Governance Strategy and Roadmap 2080 BS, recommended to the Government of Nepal to change the ward boundaries of Khandbari Municipality in Sankhuwasabha, and extended the term of the high-level administration reform task force.

Regarding the Provincial Cooperation Program, Chief Minister's Press Adviser Mahendra Bisht informed that they have decided to write to the Government of Nepal and the Ministry of Finance to renew the bilateral agreement between the Government of Nepal and the Swiss Government. They also approved the Provincial Project Selection and Classification Guideline 2080 BS and the Provincial Project Bank Management Procedure 2080 BS.

 
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