Kathmandu, December 27

Nepali edition of the book ‘Battles of the New Republic, a Contemporary History of Nepal,’ (Gantantrako sangharsha, Nepalko samakalin Itihas) was jointly launched by its author journalist Prashant Jha, Chair of Tarai Madhes Democratic Party Mahantha Thakur and Nepali Congress leader Pradip Giri here today.

Journalist Ujjwal Prasai translated the Nepali edition of the book.

Addressing a talk programme organised on the occasion on ‘Nepali nationalism,” Thakur said the government of Nepal should have given its four-point roadmap to the United Democratic Madhesi Front instead of giving it to India.

NC leader Giri said there was no stable definition of nationalists.He said Madhesis had the right to demand their share in the state and he sympathised with Madhes movement.

He said some of the rights that were ensured in the Interim Constitution had been snatched away by the new constitution, which was an injustice to Madhesis and other marginalised communities.

Book’s author Jha said although the new constitution had institutionalised the federal democratic republican system, it, failed to do justice to the Madhesis and marginalised communities.

The new constitution, he added, has increased the clusters for reservations which was against the concept of affirmative action.