Janakpurdham, September 3

United Democratic Madhesi Front today staged a peaceful dhoti rally in Janakpur.

The rally, with the participation of people wearing dhoti, a typical dress of the people in the Madhes, started from Janak Chowk, traversed through the town before returning to Janak Chowk and concluding in a corner meeting there. According to Federal Socialist Forum Nepal Dhanusha Chairperson Shesh Narayan Yadav, the rally was in response of the jeering remark of senior CPN-UML leader Jalanath Khanal.

Khanal is said to have dubbed the Madhes province a Dhoti Pradesh in one of his recent television speeches.

Though the rally was peaceful, there were clashes between police and agitators at Shivachowk, Murali chowk and other places hot on the heels of the rally. According to SP Ganesh Thapa of district police office, Dhanusha, police had to fire tear gas shells after agitators went berserk and started pelting stones.

Prior to that, UDMF leaders and cadres had expelled some youths from the rally, accusing them of infiltrating the agitation, as the front’s Dhanusha coordinator Parameshwor Sah blamed the infiltrating elements of attacking police.

Meanwhile, youths aligned to Madhesi Front today interfered in a gathering held by Unified CPN-Maoist-aligned Madhesi Liberation Front (Revolutionary) in Jaleshwor, Mahottari. accusing the latter of hoodwinking people in the name of a rally.