Kathmandu, February 17:

The central committee member of CPN-Maoist and Minister for Forest and Soil Conservation, Matrika Yadav, today said that the demand of the agitating parties of Madhes — One Pradesh, One Madhes — was not practical.

“Though that was my demand, it is not possible to happen, because the Tharu people living there do not even want to hear the word Madhes,” Yadav said during an interaction programme, ‘Tarai Madhes and Constituent Assembly’, organised by the Nepal Students’ Union here today.

He revealed that the Madhesi leaders had planned to launch a movement for its liberation by forming a separate front around one year back. “Agitating leaders, including Mahantha Thakur, Mahendra Raya Yadav, Dr Banshidhar Mishra, did not dare to join the front though they had agreed on it fearing action from their parties” he said, adding: “I know the guts of these leaders.”

He also said the election was the only way out for the liberation of Madhesi people. “Let’s go to the election first and establish the Federal Democratic Republic and then we would fight for our rights,” he said to the agitating Madhesi leaders.

Central committee member of Sadhbhawana Party, Manish Suman, said his party was not against the Nepali spirit, but opposed to the discriminatory policy the country had adopted against Madhes. “We are demanding 32.3 per cent representation in every state’s mechanism, including security,” he said.

NSU president Pradip Poudel expressed concern over the ongoing agitation in Tarai and said that it may affect the CA polls. “Rights of Madhesi people should be guaranteed, but the national integration must remain intact,” he said.