Rautahat, August 30

UCPN-Maoist politburo member and Rautahat constituency No 3 lawmaker Prabhu Sah today argued that the government had, without any ground, imposed prohibitory order and declared the district a riot-hit zone. Hence, it should remove the decree at the earliest.

Speaking at a press meet organised in Gaur by his party today, Sah accused the government of being biased against Madhesi denizens because it had tried to suppress a peaceful agitation launched by the people who wanted to assure their rights in the new constitution. “Therefore, the government must withdraw the prohibitory order and the riot-hit zone proclamation unconditionally to relieve the Madhesi people of the present hardship and crisis.

Sah argued that the government, by mobilisng the army in the region, was adding fuel the fire of social conflict.

He blamed the Minister of Home Affairs Bam Dev Gautam of suppressing the leaders and locals of Madhes. “He must call off the prohibitory order and apologise to the people,” he argued.

Sah said the government had fulfilled the demands of intact mid-west without holding any dialogue. However, it seemed reluctant to address the demands of Madhesis and Tharus. The state has discriminated against Tharu and Madhesi people, he argued. “Hence, the government must take responsibility for the violence in Kailali or it might have to encounter an even worse incident if it isn’t serious about fulfilling the genuine demands of Madhesis and Tharus,” he warned.

He reiterated the demand that the state declare the region east of Kapilvastu a Madhes Pradesh; and the region from Dang to Kanchanpur a Tharu province, as per the spirit of past agreement, Madhes agitation and the interim constitution.

He accused leaders of the four major forces of being guided by their vested interests. Sah expressed dissatisfaction with the government’s lack of seriousness with regard to creating a conductive atmosphere for the family of deceased Raj Kishor Thakur, who lost his life during the demonstration six days ago. He demanded that the deceased be declared a martyr and proper compensation be given to the family at the earliest.

Thakur’s body has been kept at District Hospital, Gaur, as the family has refused to accept the body. He appealed to activists of the agitating United Democratic Madhesi Front and Tharuhat loyalists to stage peaceful agitation.