Some two dozen intellectuals including former Chief Government Secretary Lila Mani Poudel, communist historian Surendra K.C., border expert Buddhi Narayan Shrestha, Communist leader Sadhya Bahadur Bhandari, hydro power expert Dipak Gyanwali and former diplomat Hiranya Lal Shrestha have forwarded  a five point joint memorandum to Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli urging the major parties to immediately suspend the federal order.

They have also praised the efforts undertaken by the government to enhance its trade relations with China as alternate to blocked trade with Southern neighbour India. However, they have also urged the government to take deteriorating political situation in the country under control and also prioritize import of medicines and petroleum products in the country.

The memorandum suggests the government to air-lift medicines from China.

The intellectuals are also unanimous over not addressing any of the demands of the Madhesi parties that is against Nepal’s national interest and territorial integrity. They have urged the Prime Minister not to surrender before the illicit demands of Madhesh based parties.

They point out that the crux of the present crisis lay in federalism and claim that since federalism has never been in the public agenda and thus it is necessary to go for a plebiscite to decide issues related to state restructuring. Their demand is thus to immediately suspend the federal order.

@telegraph