• Signs 11-point agreement with govt
• Agrees to settle all differences through democratic means

Kathmandu, March 8

Coordinator of the Alliance for Independent Madhes Chandra Kant Raut, who led a separatist movement for years, has renounced his demand for a separate Madhes by entering into an 11-point agreement with the government today.

The ‘free Madhes’ campaigner signed the pact with Home Minister Ram Bahadur Thapa acknowledging Nepal as a free and sovereign nation which cannot be divided and promised to completely halt dissemination of secessionist information. Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli was also present on the occasion.

Today’s deal came as a surprise to many. It came on the heels of Raut’s release from prison. He was arrested for making secessionist remarks and had lost legal battles for his release at the district and high courts. The Supreme Court yesterday ordered this release on a general date.

Raut’s elder brother, Jay Kant, who is a scientist at Nepal Academy of Science and Technology, played a key role in bringing CK to the negotiating table. Jay Kant also facilitated talks between the government and CK’s Independent Madhes Alliance.

“In the beginning, I talked to Som Prasad Pandey -- coordinator of a high-level political dialogue team formed by the government to hold talks with the agitating and disgruntled groups -- and the team’s members separately. Later, the Ministry of Home Affairs and Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli showed interest,” Jay Kant told THT.

Jay Kant represented the government when negotiations were held with CK’s outfit. Chandan Singh represented CK’s outfit during the talks.

“We basically asked members of CK’s alliance to join mainstream politics,” said Jay Kant. Later, he also came under pressure from his own party leaders and cadres, who asked him to renounce his demand for a separate Madhes, he added. “The two sides held several rounds of discussions before reaching a final deal with Oli around a month ago,” said Jay Kant, expressing pleasure for being able to “broker the deal”. Raut’s outfit will soon be registered as a political party, said sources.

Jay said CK was ‘rebellious’ since childhood. “As a kid, he used to protest even if his plate contained less food than his two brothers’. Later, when he came to Kathmandu to pursue studies, he faced discrimination. This probably prompted him to start a rebellion,” said Jay Kant.

After signing the deal, Raut stressed on the need to end violence and resort to peaceful means to uphold rights of people. “This will create a win-win situation,” he said, thanking Oli and former prime ministers Baburam Bhattarai, Sushil Koirala, Pushpa Kamal Dahal and Sher Bahadur Deuba for making his peaceful landing possible.

Oli praised CK Raut for taking a far-reaching decision on an issue of national concern.

“Following this decision, you have established yourself as a great thinker as well apart from being a technocrat,” the PM said referring to Raut, who is a computer engineer. “Another leader who has shown similar quality as CK Raut, in terms of making decisions, is my party co-chair Pushpa Kamal Dahal,” added the PM.

The pact

1. CK Raut and his party, Alliance for Independent Madhes, will respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the country
2. They will follow democratic means to address dissatisfactions of people, including those of Tarai-Madhes
3. They have agreed to settle all differences through democratic means
4. They expressed their commitment to ensure autonomy and equality
5. The government agreed to withdraw all cases slapped against AIM cadres and all AIM cadres and leaders will be released from jail/custody without any condition
6. AIM leaders will not be prosecuted for publicity materials produced in the past, but it was agreed the party wouldn’t publish any such material in future
7. AIM cadres and leaders can enjoy all rights guaranteed by the constitution, including the right to open political parties
8. The family of Ram Manohar Yadav, AIM cadre who died in jail, will be provided with adequate compensation and one member of the family will be provided with a government job
9. Government will provide treatment to all AIM cadres who were injured during the movement
10. The government agreed to treat AIM as a democratic political force
11. The agreement came into force on Friday