Siraha, January 20:

Imposition of election to a constituent assembly without solving the issues raised by the Madhesi people will result in a civil war, deputy coordinator of Madhesi Janaadhikar Forum (MJF) Jaya Prakash Prasad Gupta said today.

Addressing a press conference organised by the Madhes Media Mission and Mechi-Mahakali Media Society in Lahan today: “The nation will have to face a grave consequence if the Madhes problem is not solved prior to the polls.”

“Only a federal system with guarantee of right to self-determination can ensure the rights of Madesi people,” he said. “This issue was mentioned in the 22-point agreement between the government and the MJF but it was never implemented,” he said.

“We had demanded categorisation of the points agreed in the 22-point pact and solving some through the third amendment to the interim constitution and others after the CA polls, but the government neglected our demand,” he said, adding that a peaceful protest would force the government to meet the demands.

He also termed the 22-point pact between the government and the MJF incomplete and complex and said that the second phase of the agitation announced by the Samyukta Madhesi Morcha (SMM) will ensure rights of the Madhesi people. “We are in favour of CA polls, but the government has to create an environment conducive to free and fair elections and hold talks with the agitating groups in the Tarai and fulfil their genuine demands,” said MJF chairman Upendra Yadav.

He also claimed that the Madhes agitation will be peaceful, non-violent and final to establish the rights of Madhesi people.

“It will be foolishness of the government to try to hold election by deploying army and police in the Tarai and Madhesi people will not attend such an election,” central chairman of Nepal Sadbhawana Party Rajendra Mahato said.

“Madhesi people also want the CA election to happen, but they are against any election that will fail to establish their rights,” he said. A report from Rajbiraj quoted Rajendra Mahato as saying the government is conspiring to defer the CA polls. He was speaking at a Madhesi students’ meeting in Rajbiraj today.