National
Madhesi, Janajati parties to continue stir in Capital
The Sanghiya Gathbandhan, an alliance of Madhesi and Janajati forces, has decided to continue its protest in Kathmandu.The Sanghiya Gathbandhan, an alliance of Madhesi and Janajati forces, has decided to continue its protest in Kathmandu.
The Gathbandhan said on Wednesday that the protest, which was earlier said to have ended on Tuesday, will continue for the next 10 days.
But now onwards, according to the Sanghiya Gathbandhan, or the Federal Alliance, the protest, will be taken to different parts of the valley.
During its five-day protest, which began on Saturday, the Alliance for two days had picketed Singha Durbar, the government secretariat, and prime minister’s official
residence in Baluwatar on the last day on Tuesday.
A meeting of the parties associated with the Alliance on Wednesday decided to organise different programmes in the inner parts of the valley—Lagankhel, Kirtipur, Bhaktapur and Balaju among others—as part of their extended protest to press the government to address their demands.
Some leaders said that the Alliance is trying to garner more support from people living across Kathmandu Valley.
Alliance leaders said that they were particularly disappointed with the poor turnout of Newars and Tamangs, the two largest ethnic groups living inside and around the valley, during their four-day protest. “The protest has been successful so far as all ethnic groups including Limbus, Tamangs, Rais, Magars, Newars and Tharus participated in the protest,” said Rajendra Shrestha. “But we believe that a mass movement is possible if we succeed in connecting with the general public.”
Sanghiya Samajbadi Forum Nepal Chairman Upendra Yadav said that the protest will continue until the major parties agree to rewrite the constitution in line with the past agreements signed with Madhesi, Janajati, Dalit, Muslim and other excluded communities. But he did not rule out the possibility of resolving issues through dialogue. “The agitating parties are ready to sit for talks if major parties agree to come clean about the agenda,” he added.
The Gathbandhan allies have concluded that the first four days of protest in Kathmandu was successful in putting the spotlight on the Madhes movement once again. They said they were equally encouraged by the solidarity shown by the civil society, media and international community to their peaceful protest.
Some Madhesi leaders have also proposed that more protests should be launched in Tarai districts to mount additional pressure on the government.
But some of the Madhesi constituents of the Gathbandhan are sceptical about the current alliance of Madhesi and Janajati forces, as they say there are some conflicting demands when it comes to state demarcation.