Birgunj, January 23

The agitating United Democratic Madhesi Front has decided to bar major three political parties from organising any programmes in Bara and Parsa districts.

The UDMF meeting held at Naitan VDC-based Madhes Ashram on Friday evening decided to bar Nepali Congress, Unified CPN-Maoist and CPN UML from conducting any programmes in the two districts, claiming that the big three parties were responsible for the suppression of Madhes agitation continuing in the plans for the last five months.

Issuing a press statement after a joint meeting, the front said it had decided to bar the three parties from organising any public programmes in the two districts, as they did not heed the demands of the Madhesi and Tharu communities and instead tried to suppress them by using excessive force. The meeting had also condemned the killings of protesters in Rangeli.

“As NC, UML and UCPN-M have been supporting the government’s’ move aimed at suppressing the Madhes movement, we have decided to obstruct their programmes in the two districts,” said Pradip Yadav, chairman of Federal Socialist Forum Nepal, Parsa.

The front has also demanded immediate release of Tarai Madhes Student Front Bara district chair Santosh Yadav and tenth grader student Abhishek Jha, who were arrested by the police during the course of agitation. The front had also warned of a general shutdown if the demands were ignored.

UDMF cadres today staged demonstrations by burning tyres on the streets in various places of Birgunj. Tarai Madhes Democratic Party General Secretary Jitendra Sonal, among other UDMF leaders, also participated in the demonstrations.

It has also been reported that the leaders and cadres of Federal Socialist Forum Nepal and Tarai Madhes Democratic Party also staged demonstrations along the Birgunj-Pathliya road section this morning. Transport movement had been obstructed due to the protests.