Kathmandu, April 10

Chair of Tarai Madhes Democratic Party Mahantha Thakur said the Nepali state was always prejudiced against Madhesis and that was the reason behind state’s indifference to Madhesis’ demands.

Speaking an interaction with Madhesi journalists here today, Thakur said Madhesis’ struggle for dignity and equality was being portrayed by the state as a separatist movement, but Madhesis were seeking their rights within the territory of Nepal.

He, however, said the Madhesis were different nationality whose cultural and other rights should be protected.

“Although Madhes movement took a break for a moment, the movement will go on till Madhesis achieve their rightful share in the country,” he added.

Thakur said Nepal’s new constitution was not based on any principle as it rejected the prescription of the Interim Constitution, which clearly said that the state would be restructured in a forward looking manner to end discrimination based on gender, caste, community and region.

He said the new constitution failed to ensure identity-based federalism and to declare Nepal a country of multi-nationalities.

He said the Interim Constitution clearly stated that there would be an autonomous Madhes province as per the aspirations of Madhesis, but the new constitution had violated this provision.

Thakur said Madhesi and Janajati forces agreed yesterday to launch a joint movement to emancipate people from discrimination and subjugation. “The state is always blind and the person who holds the mantle of government should do justice to all people.

If that person fails to ensure justice, then battle is inevitable as happened in Mahabharat,” Thakur said.

He said Madhesis suffered administrative terror in the past, but now they were facing judicial terror as the government was trying to indict them in false cases with the intention of terrorising Madhesi leaders and cadres.

TMDP Spokesperson Sarvendranath Shukla said the UDMF changed the forms of protest respecting the sentiments of the public but there was no change in the government’s attitude.

Senior journalist Sukeshwar Pathak said the UDMF should not have imposed border blockade in the first phase of its movement given the intractability of the conflict. He said the UDMF would not have to launch a fiercer movement than in the past.

NTV journalist Bijay Verma said Madhesi forces should be cautious that their movement does not create problems for ordinary citizens.

Former editor of Gorkhapatra Sitaram Agrahari said the UDMF’s efforts to draw the attention of the international community towards their issues was not enough.

Journalist BP Sah said Madhesi online portals and Madhesi journalists were being made victims of state suppression and Madhesi forces needed to defend them.

Kantipur TV journalist Jitendra Jha said UDMF should rein in their cadres who target journalists during protests.

Kantipur online journalist Rajesh Mishra said the Madhes movement had promoted pan-Madhes identity, but rivalry within the UDMF for political influence in the Tarai was bad for the movement.

He said UDMF should strictly enforce a code for leaders.