Kathmandu, February 24:

Tharu leaders today said ‘One Madhes, one Pradesh’ demand of the United Madhesi Democratic Front in the “Tharuhat state” is irrelevant.

Speaking at a programme organised by the Tharu Welfare Assembly, Tharu leaders emphasised that the “Tharuhat state” that exists since the founding of Nepal should be made autonomous.

Stating that there is no place called Madhes in Nepali territory, former MPs Brahma Narayan Chaudhary and Kaiyan Chaudhary, and general secretary of the National Indigenous Nationalities Women’s Federation, Soma Rai accused Madhesi leaders of betraying Tharus.