Leaders of Sanghiya Samabesi Madhesi Gathabandhan (SSMG), an alliance of four Madhes-centric parties, have denounced senior leaders of the Samyukta Loktantrik Madhesi Morcha (SLMM) meeting with Lalu Prasad Yadav, former chief minister of Bihar state of India.

The meeting has done more harm than good to the ongoing Madhes movement, the SSMG said on Tuesday.

Sanghiya Samajbadi Forum Nepal Chairman Upendra Yadav, Sadbhawana Party Chairman Rajendra Mahato and Tarai Madhes Sadbhawana Party Chairman Mahendra Raya Yadav had met Lalu Prasad, also the chairman of Rastriya Janata Dal (RJD), in Patna on Monday.   

“The leaders must explain to Madhesi people the purpose of  meeting Bihar’s regional leader. Seeking goodwill of Indian government was alright and justifiable as we have been seeking external and internal support. But what are they trying to prove by seeking help of Bihar’s regional leaders,” Anil Jha, chairman of Sanghiya Sadbhawana Party, a SSMG member, said. 

RJD leaders are using the SLMM leaders and the ongoing Madhes movement as a political instrument against Narendra Modi government in India, SSMG leaders said. 

Lalu Prasad is one of the foremost critics of the Modi government. He was also a key figure in forming anti-Modi alliance in Bihar Assembly election that got a landslide victory in 2015.  

 “We have evidence that the SLMM leaders alongside RJD national Vice-president Raghu Bansha Prasad Singh publicly criticising Narendra Modi for not pressing Kathmandu hard enough to address the demands of Madhesi community in Muzafferpur,” Jha said. 

During the meeting, Lalu Prasad had reportedly pledged to send 1 million Bihari citizens to take part in the SLMM protest in the future. Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the Madhesi Janadhikar Forum-Loktantrik Bijaya Kumar Gachhadar also criticised the meeting. “Our revolutionary leaders were seen prostrating in front of Lalu. It looked like a meeting between serfs and master. Isn’t it shameful?” Gachhadar said.