Joint movement against draft statute

Kathmandu, August 3

A joint meeting of almost a dozen change-seeking parties including Madhesi and Janajati parties and Mohan Baidhya-led CPN-Maoist today agreed to launch a joint movement against the draft constitution, stated a press release issued by Federal Socialist Forum-Nepal.

The meeting formed a four-member taskforce to work out the joint protest programmes.

Brikhesh Chandra Lal, Kumar Lingden, Dev Gurung and Rajendra Shrestha are members of the task force.

According to Lal, the parties that attended the meeting concluded that there was no alternative to movement for the draft constitution did not address even the minimum aspirations of the marginalised people.

These parties held that the draft constitution, which was based on the 16-point pact of the four major parties was against the popular movement, armed movement, Madhes uprising and movements of Janajatis, other marginalised communities and the Interim Constitution, stated the press release.

FSP-N leaders  Upendra Yadav,  Ashok Kumar Rai, Rajendra Shrestha, CPN-Maoist Chair Mohan Baidhya, Secretary of the party Dev Gurung, Chair of Tarai Madhes Democratic Party Mahantha Thakur, TMDP Vice-chair Brikhesh Chandra Lal, CPN-(United) leader Pari Thapa, Chair of Tharuhat Tarai Party-Nepal Bahnuram Chaudhari,  Chair of Sanghiya Limbuwan Party Kumar Lingden, General Secretary of Sadbhawana Party Manish Kumar Suman, leader of Tarai Madhes Sadbhawana party-Nepal Ram Naresh Ray, Social Democratic Party leader Kumar Rai, Rastriya Janamukti Party leader Rabindra,  among others, had attended the meeting.

The task force will meet tomorrow morning to work out the joint protest programmes.