Sanghiya Gathabandhan, an alliance of Madhesi parties and Janajati forces, has announced to launch its Kathmandu-centric protest starting Saturday.

Chairman of Madhesi Janadhikar Forum-Nepal (MJF-N) Chairman Upendra Yadav made the announcement at a press meet organised at party office in Tinkune, Kathmandu.

“We held 36 rounds of talks with the government but the government didn’t seem sensitive,” said Yadav, “That’s why we were forced to resort to agitation. Now it’s not the dialogue but only agitation will find a way out.”

The Madhesi Morcha, an alliance of Madhes centric parties including Yadav’s party MJF-N, on Thursday responded to the government saying that it is not against dialogue. The Sanghiya Gathabandhan is comprised of 27 political parties including the seven parties of Madhesi Morcha.

“Our agitation will be peaceful and non violent. We have also cautioned the government that it could give a violent turn to the protest as in the past,” states a joint statement signed by Samajbadi Forum Chairman Yadav on behalf of the alliance.

“The country could plunge into a long-term struggle and civil war if the government tried to suppress the people’s agitation. We warn that the government should take entire responsibility in case such situation ensue,” the statement further states.

The alliance has decided to start their demonstration from Shantibatika in Ratnapark on Saturday.  Likewise, the alliance will picket Singha Durbar everyday from Sunday. It has demanded the government take action against the black marketeer, make diesel, petrol and cooking gas easily available, rehabilitate the survivors of earthquake and implement the past pacts signed with the agitating parties.

Key leaders of alliance including Rajendra Mahato and Hirdayesh Tripathi spoke at the press meet. Mahato made it clear that there was no internal dispute within the alliance over choosing Kathmandu-centric protest. Leader Mahato and his representative did not attend the previous meetings of the alliance.

Earlier in April, the alliance had decided to postpone its Kathmandu-centric protest and continue their struggle in the districts.