Birgunj, May 12:

Minister for Industry, Commerce and Supplies Rajendra Mahato today said that the Madhesi people should be allowed the right to rule themselves in the Madhes.

Speaking at a press conference organised by the Nepal Journalists’ Forum here, Mahato warned that the people of the hill community might be forced to displace from the Madhes if Madhesis were denied the right to rule themselves. He stressed the need for involving the people of the Madhesi community to the level of leadership.

He said that a probe team would be formed to ascertain the extent of the suppression during the Madhes agitation. The team will be formed after holding talks with the agitating forces.

He said that a meeting of ruling parties that is scheduled to be held tomorrow will take a concrete decision on constituent assembly poll date.

Mahato said that an informal agreement had been reached among the eight parties not to raise the prices of petroleum products until the CA polls. He said that the disruption of parliament by Madhesi members of parliament was done to draw the attention of the government, adding that both factions of the Sadbhawana Party would unite before the CA polls.