Birgunj, September 28

Rajendra Mahato, Chairman of Sadbhawana Party, one of the agitating forces aligned to the United Democratic Madhesi Front, today forwarded three conditions before sitting for dialogue with the government.

“If the conditions are addressed, we will be ready to sit for dialogue with the government,” he said.

Mahato, who has been staging a sit-in at Dasgaja on Birgunj-Raxaul border, told mediapersons that the government needed to strictly implement the past agreements, withdraw proclamation of Madhes/Tharuhat areas as riot-hit-zone and lift the curfew in the region, give martyrs’ status to those who lost their lives during the recent Madhes agitation and provide proper compensation and free treatment to injured persons.

He also accused the government of not being serious about holding dialogue.

Clarifying that the agitation was not against any community or individual, Mahato urged unanimous solidarity among people across the country as they were fighting for the rights of the Tarai-Madhes population of the country.

He dismissed any committees formed by the government for dialogue with the agitating forces. “We don’t sit for the dialogue until our demands are addressed,” Mahato asserted.

Mahato said that they had to resort to blocking the border and obstructing the highway as the government did not heed their demands during their month-and-a-half peaceful agitation.

The sit-in at the Miteri Bridge at Dasgaja area continued for the fifth consecutive day today.