Kathmandu, Jan 24: A minor coalition partner in the
Maoist-led government threatened to pull out and launch an
agitation if their various demands including declaring Madhesi
areas in southern Nepal as an autonomous region was not
fulfilled.
Nepal Sadbhavana Party (NSP) handing over an 18 point
memorandum to Prime Minister Prachanda yesterday, the NSP has
warned to launch agitation if its demands are not fulfilled by
next month.
"We have given an ultimatum to the Prime Minister that if
our demands were not fulfilled by February 26 we will launch
agitation from the next day", Minister for Commerce and
Supplies and President of NSP Rajendra told media.
On February 27 last year a grouping of three agitating
Madhesi parties had reached an agreement with then government
led by Girija Prasad Koirala, that includes declaring Madhes
as an autonomous region, providing more rights and
representation to Madhesi people and to include Madhesis in
state mechanism on proportionate basis.
"Our main demands are to provide autonomous status to
Madhes under federal system and to declare the entire Madhes
as a single autonomous region", Mahato said.
The other demands include successful completion of the
ongoing talks with the armed Terai outfits, establishment of
peace in Madhes, protection for journalists and civilians
among others. "To press for our demands we will announce three tier
protest programmes that include street agitation, blocking
parliamentary proceedings and voicing demands in the
government meetings", he said.
However, we will wait till April 23, when the draft
constitution will be ready for point wise discussion in the
parliament, for the fulfilment of the demands. If the demands
for declaring Madhes as an autonomous region is not
incorporated in the draft, we will intensify the agitation by
April 24, he warned.
"At that time we will walk out of the government and
launch a decisive agitation to press for our demands", he
said.
Bureau Report
