BIRGUNJ: Farmers in Parsa have demanded that Parsa be declared a drought-hit district as the district has not received adequate rainfall. A farmers’ team led by Nepal Farmers’ Association Parsa President Asarfi Sah on Friday submitted a seven-point memorandum to the government through CDO Keshav Raj Ghimire. In the memorandum, the farmers have demanded that the government declare Parsa a drought-hit district citing that sources of streams and rivers had dried up and the district had not received sufficient rainfall. They have also asked the government to waive the loan taken from Agriculture Development Bank. The memorandum states that paddy has been planted only in 25 per cent of the fields till date.

Madhesi front formed

RAJBIRAJ: Saptari-based parties have formed Madhesi Morcha for a unified Madhes region and the district’s overall development in Saptari. The morcha was made public at a press meet in Rajbiraj on Friday. Federal Socialist Forum Nepal, Tarai Madhes Democratic Party, Sadbhawana Party, National Madhes Socialist Party, Tarai Madhes Sadbhawana Party Nepal, Madhesi Janaadhikar Forum (Democratic), among others, announced its launch. The parties pledged to agitate against the draft statute and fight for the rights of Madhes and Madhesi people, among others. They have also vowed to collaborate with other marginalised, backward groups and communities and deal a severe blow to the state. Dinesh Kumar Yadav of Federal Socialist Forum Nepal said they would launch phase-wise protest and demand a complete constitution with demarcation as well as names of the federal provinces.