Madhesi parties sews up new front to launch Terai movement

Kathmandu, Feb 9 (UNI) Three major Madhesi parties today cobbled together a new alliance, United Madhesi Democratic Front, (UMDF) to press the Nepalese government to accede to their six-point demand of the Terai region.

The three parties, which formed the alliance, are -- Madhesi People's Rights Forum (MPRF), Terai-Madhes Democratic Party and Sadbhawana Party.

A meeting of the three parties, held in the capital for the last four days, had decided to strike a new alliance and carry out protests to press the government for the fulfillment of the demands of the Terai.

The Front also holds that the state must take the initiative to bring the armed agitating groups in the Terai to the national mainstream.

The leaders of the newly-formed Front claim that they would represent the authentic voice of the Madhesi people even if it sits for talks with the government and holds the capacity to enforce agreements, the Kantipur reported today.

MPRF Chairman Upendra Yadav said they were compelled to launch the agitation as the government was apathetic towards the demands of the Madhesi people.

Leader of the Terai-Madhes Democratic Party Mahantha Thakur, however, said they would hold talks with the government and take part in the CA elections if the six-point demand was fulfilled. He added that the elections cannot be held in the Terai without fulfilling the demands.

The six-point demand includes an autonomous Madhes state with a republican order and right to self determination, and a provision that allows the parties, which have filed less than 50 per cent of candidacy for the CA elections, not to field candidates for the proportional representation system.

The other demands include proportional representation of the Madhesi, jantatis, Dalits, women and all marginalised groups in all organs of the state and proportional representation of the Madhesi youth in the Nepali Army in the proportion of their population.

UNI XC ARB RS1416