'Merge Jhapa‚ Morang‚ Sunsari into one state'

HIMALAYAN NEWS SERVICE

ITAHARI: Leaders of three major political parties of Morang and Sunsari today said that a conspiracy has already been hatched to annex the three districts east to Koshi to the state till Parsa under the pressure of the Madhesi Morcha, but that would not be acceptable for them.

District-level leaders of the Unified Maoist, Nepali Congress and CPN-UML of two districts gathered in Itahari Municipality Hall today to discuss about the issue. However, the meeting could not take any formal decision owing to the absence of leaders from Jhapa who could not come due to strike.

Leaders of the two districts have agreed not to dissolve the earlier agreement among them to form a separate state comprising Jhapa, Morang and Sunsari. They have agreed to strengthen their demand by staging different protest programmes as well.

Instead of being annexed to the state till Parsa, the leaders found out the first option to join Udaypur, Siraha and Saptari and form Eastern Tharuhat-Tharuwan Kochila state which would be acceptable for them.

A separate state comprising the six districts demand was forwarded by the Unified Maoist’s lawmaker Santosh Tharu and other Tharu organisations. Tharu community has been saying time and again that they demand for a six districts state.

Eastern Tharuhat-Tharuwan Kochila State coordinator Santosh Tharu said that the six districts state would be the best solution for the present problem.

However, sources say that the leaders have also discussed an alternative option for it – To form Limbuwan state comprising nine districts East to Arun River. Limbuwan supporters endorse the decision of their leaders.