The ruling class is imposing one language and one costume on us. We have no option but to resort to movement

— Mahantha Thakur, Chairman, Tarai Madhes Democratic Party

KATHMANDU, June 27: Tarai Madhes Democratic Party Chair Mahantha Thakur has said the first draft of the constitution will again create domination of one caste and community, and therefore, Madhesis should prepare for another movement.

Addressing an interaction organised by Madhesi Journalists Society today, Thakur urged Madhesis to be ready to face the worst if they wanted to fight for their cause.

“They (the ruling class) are imposing one language and one costume on us. We have no option but to resort to movement,” Thakur said. He, however, said it would be wrong to say that past movements were fruitless. “Every movement achieves certain things and we need to continue our fight until we achieve our goal,” he added.

Thakur said Madhesis would start their protest the moment they get the first draft of the constitution. He said the major parties were promoting cartel in appointments and transfers of bureaucrats. “These parties accepted then Chief Justice Khil Raj Regmi’s interpretation of the constitution, which limited the term of the CA. They even made him the chief of the executive, but they are now protesting against Supreme Court Justice Girish Chandra Lal for issuing an interim order against the 16-point pact,” he said.

Federal Socialist Forum-Nepal Chair Upendra Yadav said Madhesis needed to be united to free themselves from ‘internal colonisation’. He said guarantee of Madhes Pradesh with the right to self-determination was central to Madhesi empowerment.

Sadbhawana Party Chair Rajendra Mahato said lack of unity among Madhesis was the main reason why they were still being oppressed.

“We have no option but to fight for our cause and our only discussion should be about the modalities of our fight,” he said. “If we just protest and don’t quit the CA, we might not be able to justify our protest among the public,” he said, adding that there was no point staying in the CA if their voices were not heard. Nepali Congress CA member Amresh Kumar Singh said the new constitution was being framed ‘on the basis of the KP Sharma Oli doctrine’, which would not do justice to Madhesis, Janajatis, Dalits and women.

He said the government was trying to amass Armed Police Force in Madhes to suppress a possible Madhesi revolt.

Singh said the major parties were bringing the first draft of the constitution sans federalism and he would burn the draft of the constitution the moment he received it. “Madhesis need to take to the streets now. Once these three Madhesi parties decide to hit the streets, I will be ready to join hands with them,” he added.

Former Supreme Court Justice Tahir Ali Ansari said everything was being run as per the Interim Constitution and hence the CA could not say that it would not abide by the Interim Constitution and not settle the federalism issue now. “If we have to reach a goal, we also need to have a valid process to reach our goal,” he argued.

Former vice president of Nepal Bar Association Surendra Mahato said the 16-point agreement had literally put federalism on life-support and if local elections were held in six months, it would consign federalism to the flames. Madhesi activist Tula Narayan Shah said Madhesi forces could put pressure only if they quit the CA.