CPN-UML senior leader Jhalanath Khanal said that Madhesi leaders should take responsibility for the Tikapur incident.

At least eight people, mostly security personnel including a Senior Superintendent of Police, and a two-year-old boy were killed when demonstrators protesting against proposals for administrative reform clashed with police in Tikapur of Kailali district on August 5, 2015.

Addressing a programme organised as part of the party’s Mechi-Mahakali campaign in Tikapur on Wednesday, the former Prime Minister said that his party would not let the government to amend the constitution.

He further said that the issues raised by the Samyukta Loktantrik Madhesi Morcha were against the nation.

Leader Khanal accused the Morcha leaders of raising the issue of constitution amendment under the direction of India.

“Morcha leaders have been demanding that the constitution should be amended prior to the elections. But, we will not accept their demand,” he said.

Moreover, the UML leader said that the Morcha leaders have been staging demonstrations in various parts of Tarai to foil the three-tire elections and to obstruct the constitution implementation process.

“The current government led by Pushpa Kamal Dahal is reluctant to hold the elections,” he said, adding, “The government announced the date for local polls under the pressure of his party.”