Dhangadi, September 7

Following the violence in Tikapur, which killed nine people including SSP Laxman Neupane, Tharuwan/Tharuhat Struggle Committee today organised a formal protest rally in Kailali.

Tharu leaders pledged to maintain ethnic goodwill between Tharus and hilly people.

Speaking at the regional protest rally in Masuriya of Kailali Constituency No 4, Tharu leaders urged their rank and file to maintain restraint.

Tharu Welfare Assembly’s former Kailali President Prabhat Chaudhary urged Tharu cadres not to fight against police and supporters of the intact far west as their agitation was against the government. “Tharus and hilly people have been living together for decades. I don’t want you to disturb this goodwill,” Chaudhary added.

Tharuhat Tarai Party ‘s central Treasurer Khadak Chaudhary said that Tharus never believed in violence. He stressed the need to wipe out doubts between Tharus and hilly people. Chaudhary added that their agitation was for a Tharuhat state encompassing the areas ranging from Kailali, Kanchanpur and Chitwan.

Tharuhat Agitation Struggle Committee Coordinator Lahuram Chaudhary said that they would advance their agitation peacefully through the lesson learnt from the violent Tikapur incident.

“Meanwhile, Tharuhat Struggle Committee distributed pamphlets of NC leader Sher Bahadur Deuba, UML Vice-chair Bhim Rawal and UCPN-Ma leader Lekhraj Bhatta. They have been accused of being anti-Tharu.

Pamphlets bearing their photos have been distributed across many villages projecting them as anti-Tharu. Tharus say Kailali and Kanchanopur were included in Province No 7 due to these three leaders.

Women in forefront of agitation

DHANGADI: Tharuhat Struggle Committee has increased women’s participation in the agitation and put them in the frontline.

A large number of women from various VDCs participated in Monday’s protest rally held in Masuriya, Kailali. Saying that police would intervene if male agitators led the protest, Tharus have put women in the frontline. Women from 10 VDCs of Kailali Constituency No 4 on Monday held a march past rally from Badaipur to Sajha Bazaar.

Tharu Welfare Assembly Kailali’s former President Prabaht Chaudhary said women had come to the street for their rights and identity. Chhotaki Chaudhary from Basauti VDC, however, said, “I came here after they asked me to pay Rs 1,000 as fine for failure to join the agitation.”