KATHMANDU: Putting forth a charter of nine-point demands, Madhesi Janadhikar Forum (MJF) said it was all set to take to the streets to press the government to fulfill its demands.

According to MJF president Upendra Yadav, they will make public the protest programme in a press conference at the party’s central office in Balkumari tomorrow.

However, the party sources say the MJF wants the implementation of the eight-point agreement between the then GP Koirala-led government and the Joint Democratic Madhesi Front that was reached on February 28, 2008. Besides, the party has also been urging the UML-led government to recognise Hindi as the nation’s official language and reinstate Paramananda Jha to the post of Vice-President.

Other demands of the party include endorsing the Bill on Inclusiveness in Public Services, withdrawing all politically motivated cases against all those involved in Madhes agitation and revoking the Special Security Plan. Timely promulgation of the statute and logical end of the peace process are the other agendas for its protest.

Yadav said that they were compelled to take such a decision as the government turned down their demands that were submitted to the Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal two months ago.

According to an MJF leader, the protests - third Madhes movement — will begin from January 16 while their protest will be focused in the Madhes region.

Political pundits say the government will surely get into hot water due to the MJF’s protests since the main opposition party UCPN-Maoist has been already on its another phase of protests.

It has also urged the government to halt the recruitment process immediately till the new statute, which will have a federal structure, is promulgated. The party wants new vacancies should be allocated equally between the Madhesis and the Pahadis.

Talking to The Himalayan Times, BP Yadav, central committee member, MJF, said that their agitation would be peaceful. “We will not enforce any types of bandhs and strikes but will mobilise the mass in a peaceful manner.”

He further added that their movement was against those giving anti-federalism statement.