Kathmandu, August 25 Senior Nepali Congress leader Sher Bahadur Deuba today said he was not against Tharus as portrayed by some online portals and social sites after yesterday’s incident in Tikapur of Kailali. “I always fought for Tharus and how can I become anti-Tharu? As I always worked for uplifting Tharus I am not anti-Tharu,” said Deuba organising a press meet at his residence in Budhanilakantha. He said he announced liberation of bonded laborers when he was prime minister. Deuba said he ended the situation of using the route of India to come to Tarai and Kathmandu from the far-west by constructing 22 bridges when he was PM. “All Tharus and hill communities were living in harmony for years. But, some outsiders penetrated the area and provoked violence in a planned way,” Deuba said. Those who killed police personnel and a little child by using domestic weapons and by burning are brutal criminals. Stating that he was pleading for special reservation of Tharus, he said, “The Tharu-dominant areas can be given autonomy by establishing social, cultural, political and traditional rights of Tharus.” He, however, said that he was not in support of splitting the district as it could create multiple problems. Deuba demanded stern action against the culprits and those who provoked the violence. Deuba accused Unified CPN-Maoist leader Baburam Bhattarai of provoking the situation by making low-level allegations against him. “In recent times, he (Baburam Bhattarai) has given tweet statements that were likely to disrupt social harmony. He, who is also Chairman of the Constitutional-Political Dialogue and Consensus Committee, has disrespected me by making low-level allegation and it is not good.”   Meanwhile, As many as 16 out of 17 Constituent Assembly members of CPN-UML representing far-western Nepal, including UML Vice-chairman Bhim Rawal today condemned the brutal attack on security forces and a child in Tikapur yesterday. “People who had no relationship with Tharu community incited them,” Bhim Rawal told the press conference organised by CA UML members inside the CA premises today. In the press statement the CA members said Tikapur incident was a ploy to derail the constitution drafting process and make Nepal a failed state. “This cruel and brutal attack on police and a two-year-old child was against both national and international humanitarian laws,” CA member Karna Thapa said. He further said it was a kind of genocide. Asked why Tharus’ demands of separate Pradesh of Tharu-dominated areas were ignored, Rawal said he has been claiming that ethnic Pradeshes to all the 125 ethnic groups were not possible. On Tharu leaders’ comments that NC leader Sher Bahadur Deuba and UML leader Bhim Rawal should take the responsibility, Rawal said, “Since both those inciting the Tharu community and attackers were not Tharus we don’t think that Sher Bahadur Deuba and I should take any responsibility.” He said the seven-Pradesh model was the decision of top leaders of political parties. Rawal, however, said the CA members were ready to support the Tharu community to achieve their other demands. He further said the constitution could be amended as per the wishes of the people in course of time. The CA members demanded probe into the incident and stern action against culprits, besides a probe of the local administration and security bodies and action against them for failure. Garima Shah, Ganesh Thagunna, Prem Ale, Mohan Singh Rathor, Gauri Oli, Man Prasad Khatri, Damodar Bhandari, Bharat Saud, Lal Bahadur Rawal, Afilal Okheda, Pemba Bhote Gurung, Basundhara Rokaya, Gyanu Gaire and Rabani Chaudhari, besides Rawal and Thapa.