Bhaktapur, November 24

Minister for Information and Communications Sherdhan Rai today said that the government won’t mobilise army to quell Madhes agitation.

Speaking at an interaction organised by the Rafat Sanchar Club today, Minister Rai, who is also the government’s spokesperson, clarified that the government would not mobilise the army unless the situation goes out of control. “However, army could be mobilised if the agitation poses a threat to national security,” he added.

Minister Rai further said the government cannot suppress the Tarai agitation by mobilizing the army. He further informed that the government had not so far concluded that the nation was heading towards emergency, but that it was preparing to issue a white paper on the crisis seen in the country.

Similarly, Minister Rai urged the protesting parties to seek a political solution through dialogue as unofficial border blockade and violence in the Tarai has created acute shortage of essentials, leading to a humanitarian crisis.

He also informed that the government had urged India to lift blockade as the government was ready to resolve internal problems through dialogue.

Stating that the government could not function as per people’s aspirations due to the ongoing agitation in the Tarai and the blockade imposed by India, Minister Rai said it is doing its utmost for the welfare of the country and Nepali people. He said the government was committed to easing supply of essentials and controlling black marketing.

Likewise, Minister Rai said that the government was working to amend the constitution and get the reconstruction bill passed through the Parliament by November 26. “This would address most of issues raised by the agitating Madhes-based parties,” he said.

He, however, said that any activity that would go against the spirit of the constitution would not be tolerated.