JANKPURDHAM: Despite mounting protest from rival political parties and different organisations, the UCPN-Maoist on Friday declared Madhes Autonomous Republican State in Janakpur. The declaration programme was inaugurated amidst a variety of cultural show. The UCPN-Maoist has deployed its erstwhile paramilitary force - Young Communist League - to the venue as volunteers. While hundreds of security personnel also kept vigil round the clock to avert any possible skirmishes. Deputy Chairman of the party Dr Baburam Bhattarai declared the Madhes autonomous amidst a gathering of thousands of party supporters. He was waving a flag that carried the slogan 'Madhes Autonomous Republican State'. The party has included Saptari, Siraha, Dhanusha, Mahottari, Sarlahi,Rautahat, Bara, Parsa,Nawalparasi, Kapilvastu and Rupandehi districts under the Madhesh Autonomous State. Addressing the declaration programme, Dr Bhattarai said his party was not against India. Stating that people of different regions of India are also in armed struggle for their liberation as in Nepal, he added, “Though we express solidarity to their movement, we have no involvement in their movement.'' He also refuted the allegation of Indian Home Minister P Chidambaram that the Nepalese Maoists and the Indian Maoists have a nexus between them, he added, “We have only solidarity but no involvement in the movement of the Indian Maoist who are fighting for the liberation of the exploited people.'' Dr Bhattarai also claimed that the CPN-UML and the NC were hatching conspiracies to dissolve the CA and impose presidential rule. ''Nepali Congress and CPN-UML know pretty well that the statue could not be drafted without the Maoists but I wonder why they are leaving the Maoists alone?'' he asked. Dr Bhattarai further said that the greed for power has left three Madhes-based parties hand-in-glove with the government even as their deals on Madhes issues remain unaddressed. Bhattarai also said that the republican states as declared by their party would be established if the Constituent Assembly failed to do so. Meanwhile, cadres of the Madhesi Janaadhikar Forum (Democratic) staged a sit-in in Sivachowk to protest the Maoist autonomous state declaration programme. Similarly, Mithila State Struggle Committee also organised a rally in Janakpur to protest the Maoists’ programme.