Birgunj, January 5:

Samyukta Madhes Morcha (SMM) has decided to launch a decisive Madhes agitation to establish the rights of Madhesi people in the government mechanism and administration.

Addressing a protest assembly organised at BP Park here today, Madhesi Janaadhikar Forum (MJF) chairman Upendra Yadav said that the declaration of a democratic republic has no meaning to Madhesi people until the Tarai region is declared an autonomous state with right to self-determination.

Stating that rights should be given to people to strengthen national unity, Yadav said, “the seven-party alliance has put national unity at risk.”

He also said that the government has failed to implement the agreement reached with MJF and that it has not maintained law and order situation in Tarai.

“The present government does not have legitimacy so a new government, responsible to hold the CA polls, should be formed at the earliest,” he said adding that the Tarai agitation would continue until an autonomous Madhes region was formed.

On alleged encroachment of Nepali land by India in the Tarai region, Nepal Sadbhawana Party chairman Rajendra Mahato said that the ruling parties were trying to weaken the Madhes agitation by raising the issue of encroachment of land in Susta of Nawalparasi.

Stating that the Madhes agitation and CA elections should go side by side, Mahato said that the ruling parties were trying to defer the election again by raising the issue of Madhes agitation.

Rights of the Madhesis can be ascertained through a peaceful agitation, he said adding that armed forces in Tarai should join peaceful agitation.

Co-chairman of Sadbhawana Party Laxman Lal Karna also spoke on the occasion.

SMM is a joint front formed by MJF and Nepal Sadbhawana Party.