Kathmandu, February 5

With the spontaneous opening of the Birgunj-Raxaul border point 135 days after it had been shut, today, the agitating United Democratic Madhes Front is now under intense pressure to review its border-based agitation.

Though UDMF leaders, including Sadbhawana Party Chairman Rajendra Mahato have been claiming that the border-based agitation should end, the UDMF is yet to take a concrete decision regarding their blockade.

UDMF leaders have said that they will take a formal decision regarding the mode of their ongoing agitation through a meeting of the UDMF scheduled for tomorrow.

Chairman of Tarai Madhes Democratic Party Mahantha Thakur said the United Democratic Madhesi Front was in consultation regarding a review of the ongoing agitation programme, and tomorrow’s meeting of the Front would come up with a final decision.

However, Co-chairman of Federal Socialist Forum-Nepal Rajendra Shrestha claimed there was no possibility of a meeting of the UDMF tomorrow because FSF-N leaders were attending other functions.

Shrestha also said resumption of supply from Birgunj was just a temporary exit that had happened a few times before in the past as well. He said the border point would remain closed until the UDMF’s demands were met.

Shrestha, however, said the meeting of the two task forces of the major political parties and the UDMF could take place tomorrow.

FSF-N has been airing differing views regarding the change in mode of protest the UDMF has been adopting while the Rajendra Mahato-led Sadbhawana Party is now in favour of changing the mode of protest.