National
Morcha tightens stranglehold at border points
As the Samyukta Loktantrik Madhesi Morcha decides to intensify its protest, SLMM activists have tightened their stranglehold at major entry points with India by pitching tents on the no-man’s-land at Nepalgunj-Rupaidiha.Abadhesh Kumar Jha & Thakur Singh Tharu
As the Samyukta Loktantrik Madhesi Morcha decides to intensify its protest, SLMM activists have tightened their stranglehold at major entry points with India by pitching tents on the no-man’s-land at Nepalgunj-Rupaidiha.
This is likely to further disrupt the supplies of daily essentials, compounding the public misery and hardship and aggravating the impact of two months of unofficial blockade imposed by India.
Following a meeting of the Madhesi leaders in Biratnagar on Monday, Morcha cadres pitched a tent at the Nepalgunj-Rupaidiha point. The protesters have decided to block the Jogbani border point with India as well.
“The government is not taking us seriously despite months of protest. We are left with no choice but to intensify agitation until our demands are addressed,” said Upendra Yadav, chairman of the Sanghiya Samajbadi Forum Nepal.
Morcha’s decision to block additional border points has led many to believe that politics is likely to be more polarised in the coming days.
Despite several attempts to occupy the no-man’s-land at the two points, Morcha cadres had failed due to resistance from locals.
Protesters have so far been staging their sit-ins mainly at the Birgunj-Raxaul border, the biggest trade route with India.
“By failing to come up with a concrete proposal on addressing our demands, the government has betrayed us,” said Sadbhawana Party Chairman Rajendra Mahato.
Cadres on the ground have started round the clock vigilance on the border for what they call preventing cargo trucks, including fuel tankers, from entering Nepal.
With the move, supplies of essentials to Nepal have ground to a halt via the customs point. Twenty-five fuel tankers and more than 100 cargo trucks are stuck in Rupaidiha, India, due to the obstruction, police said.
Earlier, cargo trucks entered Nepal at night as the cadres returned home after daylong protests. “Our protest had no any impact on the import of essentials. So we obstructed the border route completely,” said Morcha leader Ram Kumar Dixit.
Protesters are taking turns to picket the passage. They stay in the tent and use a nearby house for mess. Morcha supporters warned that the protest would be continued if the government-SLMM talks made no headway.
Deputy Superintendent of Police Bishnu Giri said the supplies of essentials were halted due to the obstruction.