Valley
UML launches ‘clear the air’ campaign
The ruling CPN-UML has started a special campaign in the Tarai for what it claims to expose “illusions” created against the newly adopted constitution and promote communal harmony among Madhesi people.The ruling CPN-UML has started a special campaign in the Tarai for what it claims to expose “illusions” created against the newly adopted constitution and promote communal harmony among Madhesi people.
The campaign was launched on Wednesday, with senior party leader Madhav Kumar Nepal, General Secretary Ishwor Pokharel, Secretary Pradeep Gyawali and Standing Committee member Shankar Pokharel by holding a mass meeting in Hariwan, Sarlahi.
The top leaders had discussed with district level leaders in a close-door session before mandating the party rank and file to be mobilised in all 20 Tarai districts. “Basically, this campaign has been launched to clarify allegations against constitution and our party and to promote harmony among people in Tarai,” said Gyawali.
The party has mobilised its sister wings, including Youth Association Nepal, in the districts for two months starting from Thursday. The party believes that tensions flared in the region after Madhes-based parties misinformed the people about the new constitution.
The party had concluded at a recent meeting in Chitwan that it should expose “misinterpretation of new constitution” and begin a campaign to raise awareness among backward and marginalised communities such as Dalit, Muslim and Chamar in the region, according to Gyawali. “Constitution has not discriminated against anyone in Madhes. Instead, some political elites in Madhes misled the people with a vested interest to secure their political future,” he said.
The party is planning to hold mass meetings in regional cities where top leaders, including Prime Minister
KP Sharma Oli, are
scheduled to address the gatherings to clarify both positive and negative aspects of the constitution. “We are still committed to ensure Madhesi people’s rights through amendment on new constitution but intensifying protests will not yield a solution,” he added.
The Madhes-based parties have been targeting UML leaders and cadres the most in the region, accusing them of being “anti-Madhes”, said YAN Vice-chair Dil Kumari Panta.
“Attacking a particular party or group will not give a solution. So we want to initiate dialogue among all stakeholders and convey our party’s position to the public.”