Itahari, March 11:

The continuing bandh by the Madhesi Janaadhikar Forum (MJF) has pushed people into starvation, and impoverished Musahar and Batar families today held protest rallies in Sunsari’s Duhabi.

Scores of Musahar and Batar families surrounded MJF advisor Badri Bishwas’ house at Duhabi and organised protest programmes in wards 2, 3 and 4 there.

A protester Ramdev Rishidev said they were surviving on daily wages and as the bandh has continued without any break, their very existence is in danger. Either a conducive environment should be created for their daily work or the bandh organisers should make arrangements for rations for them, he added. An agitation will be launched against the forum if their demands are not fulfilled, he warned. The Musahars and Batars carried empty vessels, kitchen utensils with children while protesting on the street.

Sunsari chairman of MJF SN Mehta claimed that the counter-agitation against the MJF was the result of instigation by anti-Madhes movement elements. He said that arrangement for food would be made for Musahars and Batars on the condition that they, too, join the MJF movement.

Mehta also claimed that MJF cadres were not behind the attack on police vehicles or media persons. Infiltrators carried out the attacks, he said.

Meanwhile, hundreds of CPN (Maoist) cadres held a peace rally in Sunsari’s headquarters Inaruwa. The rally went around Inaruwa Municipality and turned into a street corner meeting at Loktantrik Chowk. Maoist district leaders Rojina, Krishna and Sandhyal, among others, addressed the corner meet. They also called on local businessmen to open the markets.