Kathmandu, February 27:

The Tharuhat Joint Struggle Committee (TJSC) today announced protests against the government decision to enlist Tharus under the Madhesi community.

TJSC president Laxman Chaudhari said 14 Tharu-affiliated organisations condemned the cabinet decision of February 3, which included Tharus as one of the 92 castes under the Madhesi community.

According to Chaudhari, they will organise a torch-rally from Maitighar Mandala to International Convention Centre and in the Tharuhat districts on March 1. “We will burn the copies of the ordinance, which has defined Tharus as Madhesis, in the restricted area before the Constituent Assembly venue,” he added.

They will also organise a three-day general strike from March 2 in the Tharuhat region. He further added that they would intensify their protests if the government did not address their demands on time. He also accused the state of not trying to address their problems and keeping their identity in crisis.

“We have given formal training to the armies of Tharuhat, Limbuwan, Tamsaling and Magarat areas to revolt against the government. We are planning to recruit additional one lakh persons in our armies this year. We are supporting them by utilising local water, land and forest resources,” he added.

He also said they were yet to feel any positive change despite the establishment of Loktantra in the country.

Saying that the Tharus had their own identity as an ethnic group, Nepal Loktantrik Samajbadi Party president Upendra Gachhadar said the ordinance had hurt their sentiments. He demanded the government to withdraw the ordinance. Gachhadar also slammed the government for enlisting all ethnic groups in the Tarai as Madhesis.

President of Tharu Intellectual and Research Centre Gopal Dahit said the ordinance had breached the rights of the people in Tarai and said the government should be responsible for the outcomes of the protests.

“We are revolting to safeguard the identity of the people in the Tarai,” he added.