Birgunj, August 24:

The central committee meeting of the Madhesi Janaadhikar Forum (MJF) that started on Wednesday concluded yesterday, passing a five-point proposal.

The MJF has given an ultimatum to the government to meet its 26-point charter of demands, presented to the government talks team, by August 31.

Speaking at a press conference organised to make public the decision of the meeting here today, MJF chairperson Upendra Yadav said: “If the government does not meet the demands, the forum will stage protest rallies, sit-ins and torch rallies for three days starting from September 7.”

The meeting urged the government to make conducive atmosphere for the constituency assembly (CA) polls by putting an end to the existing confusion and uncertainty. “The CA polls cannot be held until the demands of Madhesi, Janajatis and people of indigenous community are met,” Yadav said.

“If the polls are held in the prevailing condition, they will be meaningless. They will be like the municipal poll conducted by the royal regime,” he said. However, he did not clearly say whether or not the MJF will boycott the polls.

Yadav said that the MJF has formed a Flood Victim Relief Committee for collecting funds and distributing relief to the flood victims.

The meeting has demanded the government and human right organisations to conduct a search for Kathmandu Valley chairperson of the Madhesi Youths Forum, Jitendra Shah, who was abducted from the capital a few months ago.

Meanwhile, a report from Bara quoted MJF chairman Upendra Yadav as saying today that his party was in favour of a federal democratic republic.

Speaking at an interaction on “Constituent assembly polls and challenges” in Kalaiya, Yadav said his party’s priorities were autonomy and the creation of an autonomous Madhesi state. “Only when a just, equitable and democratic republic is formed will every segment of the Nepali society get its recognition,” Yadav said.

Yadav said his party has been waging a peaceful struggle for securing the rights of the Madhesis. Yadav urged the government to create a good atmosphere for the polls and ensure that it is held in a free and fair manner. He, however, expressed the apprehension that if the current interim House was given continuity until the CA polls, the polls will not be free and fair.

“CDOs are being attacked, media houses are being harassed. Cadres and affiliate cadres of a party that is in the government are moving around with arms. In such a scenario, is it possible to hold the CA polls in a free and fear-free atmosphere?” he queried.