NEPALGUNJ: Madhesi Janaadhikar Forum (MJF) chairman Upendra Yadav on Sunday condemned state restructuring on the basis of ethnicity as wrong and impractical. He made the comments in the presence of MJF co-chairman JP Gupta and leader Renu Kumari Yadav in Nepalgunj.

Speaking to journalists, Yadav said that ethnic division would be bitter for the nation. He added that there are 125 tribes in the country and 98 ethnic groups in Madhes alone.

Criticising the UCPN-Maoist declaration of an autonomous republic, Yadav was of the view that the Maoist move could split Madhes. He also said that the agreement with only three political parties is not enough for the consensus and that consultation needs to be held with Madhesi parties also. He said that the new constitution could not be drafted in the time due to the political deadlock.

Yadav urged the government to implement the past pact and agreements with Joint Madhesi Morcha. He informed that they would start the third phase of Madhes agitation if their demands were not fulfilled. He added that they have begun the preparations for the same.

Demanding the reinstatement of former vice president Parmanda Jha, Yadav said that Jha should be reinstated along with the facilities accorded to him earlier. He also demanded that all the regional languages be recognised as official.