Kathmandu, April 15

Sadbhawana Party Chair Rajendra Mahato today said there was no option for them but to launch another movement to force the government and the major parties to address the agitating forces’ demands.

Addressing an interaction organised on the 26th anniversary of the party here today, Mahato said the Madhesi forces would launch Kathmandu-centric agitation along with indigenous nationalities this time around. He flayed the government for being indifferent to the demands of Madhesi forces.

Mahato said his party championed the cause of Madhesis and other marginalised communities since its inception and would continue doing so until all the marginalised communities got their rightful share.

Mahato said founder leader of SP late Gajendra Narayan Singh took a great risk to champion the cause of Madhesis in the Panchayat era and early days of the restoration of democracy in the 1990’s when championing the cause of Madhesis and federalism were portrayed by the state and some major parties as communal and divisive.

Mahato thanked former speaker Daman Nath Dhungana for allowing Singh to enter the House of Representatives in Dhoti and Kurta — the attire of his choice.

Mahato said Singh’s decision to wear Dhoti and Kurta and speak Hindi in the House was itself a movement to empower Madhesis.

He said SP’s championing of the Madhes cause held significance as it was the first political party to raise Madhes issues prominently in the country.