Interviews
‘Three parties are against the demands of Madhes’
‘Three parties are against the demands of Madhes’Sadhbhawana Party Chairman Rajendra Mahato who is in New Delhi following his treatment at Haryana-based Medanta Hospital talked with the Post’s Devendra Bhattarai about the Madhes movement and the ongoing talks between the government and the Samyukta Loktantrik Madhesi Morcha. Excerpts:
Fewer people appear to be participating in Madhes aandolan these days. Is Madhes movement and Samyukta Loktantrik Madhesi Morcha’s obstruction at border points with India losing public support?
No, Madhes aandolan still enjoys considerable public trust and support. But there are indications that public trust towards the protest seems to be wavering. I have felt that people are getting increasingly anxious due to prolonged crisis. Youths are raising calls for resorting to violent means as peaceful protests and demonstrations have failed to force the major parties to address their demands. Violent suppression from the security force has equally disappointed them. We have been telling them to stick to the path of peaceful protest. The Morcha has been demanding separate autonomous federal provinces in Tarai, but many are openly advocating for secessionist movement. Calls for violent struggles and secession might turn into communal violence. All political parties should give a serious thought on these issues.
Three major parties and the SLMM have formed an informal taskforce to smooth out differences on contentious issues. How optimistic are you about its success?
Look, Nepal has a culture of forming a commission, a taskforce and a committee when you don’t want to do anything. We suspect that the major parties might be trying to do exactly the same in case of Madhes. We have been demanding Madhes/Tharuhat provinces (two provinces) along the southern plain from Mechi in the east to Mahakali in the west. We are open to discuss on the details of demarcation. Some districts can be aligned between hill and plain provinces to maintain the equation of population. But we want another province in Tarai. Major parties are not ready to redraw the boundaries, fearing protest in other areas. They are trying to run way with such excuses. It is a duty of the government to address grievances of all communities if such protests take place while addressing our demands. Such excuses won’t work.
You met Nepali Congress Vice-president Ram Chandra Poudel here. Didn’t you advise him about the role the largest party in Parliament can play in resolving the Tarai crisis.
Nepali Congress, CPN-UML and UCPN (Maoist) were equally responsible in promulgation of the new constitution. All three parties were responsible for sowing seed of discontent. I told Poudel that Nepali Congress cannot make any excuses even if it’s in the opposition now. Surprisingly, three major parties appear to be on the same boat when it comes to the demands of Madhes. All are against addressing our demands. I told him that NC leaders should stick to their decisions like late Girija Prasad Koirala. The same party that brought Maoist rebels to the mainstream politics has now become hostage of indecision.
Why did Sadbhawana refuse to join the taskforce? What is the reason behind this dissatisfaction?
Our decision was natural after what happened in Biratnagar. I was deliberately attacked by the security force, but the government has not apologised yet. A police official came and greeted me and later the same official assaulted me. Isn’t that deliberate attack? Shouldn’t the government investigate into the incident? That’s why our party is unhappy.