UDMF top guns meet Indian opposition leaders

All Indian leaders agree that Madhesis should get their rightful share

Mahato told THT over phone from the Indian capital that the Madhesi leaders told Indian leaders and former diplomats that they resorted to blockading of border to press the major parties to address their concerns as the government did not pay heed to their demands even after 40 days of other forms of peaceful agitation.

Mahato said UDMF leaders told the Indian leaders and former diplomats that Madhesis were agitating against the provisions of the new constitution because the new statute snatched away the rights given to Madhesis by the Interim Constitution, including the right of proportional representation in state organs and ignored the past agreements signed with the Madhesi forces in the past. “We are very encouraged by the responses of the Indian leaders.

They all agree that Madhesis should get their rightful share and the current problems should end through dialogue soon,” Mahato added.

UDMF leaders told Indian leaders that the current forms of agitation, including the border blockade, would continue till the Madhesis got their rights.

Mahato said Rajya Sabha MP Anand Sharma told them that he would discuss the concerns of Madhesi parties with Indian National Congress leaders.

Mahato said they also informed the Indian leaders and former diplomats about their key demands. Mahato said former diplomats wanted to know about their demands and how the current problems could be resolved.

The UDMF leaders are scheduled to interact with National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar tomorrow.