Rautahat, June 15

Rastriya Janata Party-Nepal presidium leader Rajendra Mahato today warned that the country would plunge into a great crisis if the government tried to hold the second phase of local level elections forcefully.

Speaking at a function organised by Press Forum Rautahat today, Mahato warned of a final and fresh agitation if the ruling coalition imposed the elections without their consent at a time when they were struggling for the rights of the Madhesi people. “Madhesi people don’t want to take part in the polls without ensuring their fundamental rights,” argued Mahato.

He reminded Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba not to repeat the past mistake, which resulted in the killing of as many as 20,000 innocent citizens. He demanded that the Madhes agendas be addressed through constitution amendment before the second phase of local elections. He was of the opinion that the date for the second phase of civic polls ought to be postponed for amending the constitution.

“RJPN is ready to take part in the polls only if the government postpones the poll date and addressed the rights of Madhes, Limbuwan, Tharu, ethnic nationalities and

women, among others,” said Mahato.

He accused the Chairperson of Federal Socialist Forum-Nepal Upendra Yadav of betraying the Madhesi community.

He appealed to Yadav to join hands with the RJP-N to institutionalise the rights of the Madhesi community.

Meanwhile, another RJP-N leader Anil Kumar Jha said that ensuring the demands of Madhesi people in the constitution itself was the only concern of their party. “We won’t stop our agitation until the rights of the Madhesi people are ensured,” argued Jha.