It puts Kapilvastu, where population of Madhesis is almost 90 pc, in hill province

— TMDP Chair Mahantha Thakur

Kathmandu, August 21

Madhesi and Janajati forces say the the three major parties’ decision to carve out seven provinces does not address the concerns of Madhesis and Janajatis, including Tharus, who are protesting against the six-province model.

Tarai Madhes Democratic Party Chairman Mahantha Thakur said unless boundaries were demarcated keeping in mind the identity question, number of units would be meaningless.

“How can we accept this model that puts Kapilvastu, where the population of Madhesis is almost 90 per cent, in hill province? Sunsari too has almost 56 per cent Madhesi population but this district has not been included in Tarai province,” Thakur added.

Thakur said Madhesis were demanding that their geographical identity should be respected but in the hills, ethnic identity of the dominant groups should be respected.

Parliamentary Party leader of Federal Socialist Forum-Nepal Ashok Kumar Rai said his party stood for criteria based federal units and if criteria were to be followed, there would at least be 10 provinces in the country.

Rai said five criteria of identity must be respected while carving out provinces. “Seven provinces cannot ensure identity-based federalism. Leaders of three major parties appear to be adopting federalism in name only. They are for administrative division of provinces, which means they are either denying federalism or trying to make it unsuccessful,” Rai added.

He said his party would continue the current agitation launched against the draft constitution.

Co-Chair of Sadbhawana Party Laxman Lal Karna said the seven-province model did not respect the criteria of identity and economic capability. He said the seven-province model addressed the concerns of Pahadi people but did not do justice to the Tharus and Madhesis, who are agitating against the haphazard demarcation of provinces. “We will continue tour agitation. Big parties’ decision to carve out seven provinces will work as an energy for our movement,” he added.

Political analyst Tula Narayan Shah said the three parties’ decision to carve out seven provinces was anticipated but Gachhadar failed to comprehend that on time.

“Gachhadar sided with the big parties for his concern about the nation, perhaps now he realises how this nation works,” Shah said and added that the three parties decided to address the concerns of Khas Arya community and adopted a strategy of repressing the agitation launched by Tharus and Madhesis.

Shah added that with the exit of Gachhadar from the four-party alliance, the ongoing movement in Madhes would intensify and the three big parties would be forced to negotiate with the agitating forces. “Three parties’ agreement to carve out seven provinces will not work,” he added.

Om Gurung, spokesman for Indigenous Nationalities’ National Movement-Nepal said unless the provinces were created on the basis of identity and economic capability, number of provinces would be meaningless. “Leaders of major parties have not paid any attention to the criteria and principle of federalism. Madhesis, indigenous nationalities and Dalits will not accept their decision and will continue their agitation,” Gurung added.