Civil society leaders organised protest rallies in Sunsari and Morang on Thursday, demanding not to divide the districts to settle the ongoing Tarai crisis.

In Itahari, the civil society representatives staged a rally against the idea of dividing Sunsari to induct it in State 2 and India’s unofficial blockade. Addressing an assembly after the rally, President of Civil Society Itahari Chapter Bodhraj Nepal termed India’s blockade as inhumane act and warned of dire consequences if the district was divided.

Madhesi leaders of the Nepali Congress issued a statement saying that they would not accept the proposed induction of the district in State 2. Party’s District Vice-president Ram Prasad Mehta, among other leaders, maintained that the Madhesi-Pahade relation would be harmonious if Sunsari remains in State 1.

CPN-UML leaders in the district held a press conference on Thursday where they denounced the idea of delineating Jhapa, Morang and Sunsari districts. The CPN-UML district chapter also warned of massive protests if those districts were divided.

In Biratnagar, civil society leaders organised an hourlong sit-in outside the District Administration Office to express their demand for an undivided Morang. Sixty-three organisations and eight political parties participated in the protest.

Civil society workers, law enforcers and businessmen, among others, in Sunsari and Morang have started a protest since Wednesday against UCPN (Maoist) Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal’s new proposal to divide the districts on the basis of Hill and Madhes origin population and separate them into State 1 and 2.