The clause-wise voting in the Constituent Assembly (CA) to endorse the articles of the new constitution has drawn mixed responses from the public in Tarai districts.

While some say there is no other alternative to putting the articles to vote, others are of the view that endorsing the constitution without addressing the concerns raised by disgruntled groups will not be accepted by all.

PK Jha, a political analyst, said the country needs a constitution, but it has to address the demands of disaffected groups.

Meanwhile, civil society leader Durga Subedi sees nothing wrong with the major parties’ decision to press ahead with the constitution drafting process against the wish of some groups.

He said the ongoing protests in Tarai lacked proper direction. This, Subedi said, was due to the “immoral activities” of Madhesi leaders.

Jayaram Yadav, central member of Sanghiya Samajbadi Forum Nepal, said the major parties did a disservice to many suppressed and downtrodden communities by going ahead with the constitution writing process.

He said the people in Tarai, Hill and Mountain regions were protesting peacefully to press their demands, but the major parties deliberately suppressed their voice. The people will not accept the constitution, Yadav added.

Legal practitioner Nira Bhagat also thinks the constitution is being drafted for the welfare of a few communities. It is not for the Madhesis, Janajatis, Tharus, Dalits and women, she said.

Ishwordayal Mishra, central member of Tarai Madhes Loktantrik Party, claimed the major parties were trying to promulgate the constitution by ignoring the demand and rights of many groups. He said constitution issued in a haste will not be acceptable and his party will continue to struggle to have the concerns of minority groups addressed.

Amiri Chaudhary, Sarlahi district chairman of Nepal Federation of Indigenous Nationalities, said the major parties should have at least given the disgruntled groups an assurance of addressing their concerns after adopting the constitution.

The civil society leaders in Nawaplarasi said the constitution will not be accepted by the people in Tarai. They said failure to bring the opposition groups to constitution writing process was a weakness on the part of the government.

Pradeep Yadav, a leader of Samyukta Loktantrik Madhesi Morcha in Birgunj, said they will continue their protests until the major political parties implement the past agreements.

(With inputs from our local correspondents)