Kathmandu, February 22

The CPN-UML today hinted that it could allow debate on the amendment bill if there was a guarantee that the Madhesi parties would accept voting results on the bill.

CPN-UML Vice-Chair Bhim Rawal said his party leaders would meet Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal and Nepali Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba and would seek to know whether or not the agitating Madhesi parties would accept voting results. Rawal was speaking to THT after a meeting with eight fringe parties that are opposed to the bill.

There is no point in dwelling on the constitution amendment bill in the House if the agitating United Democratic Madhesi Front does not accept voting results, he added.

The UML, which has called the bill anti-national and anti-constitutional, has demanded that it be withdrawn.

Rawal added that the UML would also draw the PM’s attention to the need to pass the remaining election related laws and to create conducive environment for polls.

He said the meeting of opposition parties  also urged  the government  not to revise the Local Bodies Restructuring Commission report.

“We have decided to discuss the constitution amendment bill and other political issues with the PM and NC president,” said deputy leader of the UML Parliamentary Party Subas Chandra Nembang.

Earlier, the meeting decided not to allow any discussion on the bill in the House without an agreement with agitating forces. Today’s House meeting was adjourned following the opposition’s decision.

Nembang said the meeting also condemned the United Democratic Madhesi Front for allegedly cordoning a house in Janakpur where UML Senior Vice Chairman Bam Dev Gautam was staying.

UML Chief Whip Bhanu Bhakta Dhakal said his party had taken the incident seriously.

CPN-UML, UDMF cadres clash

Janakpurdham, February 22

United Democratic Madhesi Front activists clashed with CPN-UML cadres during Madhes bandh called by the front in Janakpur today. The front had enforced bandh in the Tarai to protest the government’s announcement of local level poll date without amending the constitution.

The clash broke out near the home of CPN-UML leader Raghubir Mahaseth at Brahmapuri in Janakpur as UDMF activists were protesting against UML Vice-chairman Bamdev Gautam, who was at Mahaseth’s house.

Radio Janakpur’s proprietor Shital Sah and CPN-UML Dhanusha Constituency No 5 regional chair Lal Bahadur Leheri were injured in the incident.

UDMF accused Sah of inciting UML cadres to pelt stones at front activists. Federation of Nepali Journalists, Dhanusha, and Press Chautari Dhanusha condemned the attack on Shital Sah.

Sadbhawana Party Dhanusha Chair Sanjay Kumar Singh said UML cadres pelted front activists with stones when they were staging a peaceful rally. The front alleged that Sah was taken to the house of Mahaseth and thrashed mercilessly by UML cadres.

Windowpanes of Mahaseth’s house were damaged in the UDMF attack.

UDMF cadres descended on Janakpur streets and staged a rally early this morning.

They pelted Rajbiraj Municipality Office with stones, shattering windowpanes.

A large number of police personnel were deployed on the highway and streets to avert any untoward incident in Rajbiraj of Saptari.

Elsewhere, life was thrown out of gear due to the bandh in Dhanusha, Mahottari, Saptari, Siraha, Bara,  Parsa and Rautahat. Long and short route buses stayed off the roads.  Schools, factories and market places remained shut. UDMF cadres also took out a rally in Birgunj early this morning. They burned tyres and shouted slogans.

East-West Highway obstructed

GAIGHAT: Long route buses from the east plied alternative routes to avoid obstruction on the East-West Highway on Wednesday. Himali Yatayat Entrepreneurs’ Association Chair Umesh Basnet said buses from Kakadvitta, Dharan, Itahari  and Jhapa used Chatara-Rampur and Gaighat-Hetauda routes. He said preparation was on to tie up with all transport associations in the east and ply buses on alternative routes.