Morcha undecided on leaving government
A day after the Samyukta Loktantrik Madhesi Morcha (SLMM), an alliance
of five Madhes-based parties, expressed reservations over the proposed
11-state model federation for the country, it was not yet clear as to
how that would play out with regards to the Madhesi alliance staying in
the government and in the Constituent Assembly (CA).
The Morcha has primarily objected on two counts—delineation of the state boundaries and the naming of the states.
Leaders of the Morcha are under pressure from second-rung leaders of the constituent parties to pull out of the government and join agitations for a federal set-up that would ensure identity-based provinces.
A meeting of the Morcha on Wednesday, however, could not take a decision. Leaders who attended the talks said deliberations are on and that they are likely to reach a conclusion on Thursday. “Leaders presented their views with regard to staying in the government. The second-rung leaders urged the leadership to quit the government and hit the streets,” said General Secretary of Sadhbhawana Party Manish Suman. As the leaders held the meeting, student leaders of Morcha-affiliated parties gathered outside the meeting hall at Singha Durbar and demanded the leadership step down.
In the meeting, Sadhbhawana Party Chairman Rajendra Mahato proposed pulling out of the government immediately.
The party has decided to pull out even if other Morcha partners decide to stay on, Suman said.
Chairman of the Madhesi Janadhikar Forum-Loktantrik Bijaya Kumar Gachhadar said all options must be explored, including forging a “strong alliance” with the Janajati groups, to press for the issues of identity and federalism before leaving the government.
“While I am ready to resign, that should be the last weapon in our armoury. We should first seek all the other options,” a leader quoted Gachchadar as saying.
Chairman of the Tarai Madhes Loktantrik Party Mahanta Thakur urged focusing on the “stated objectives for now”. “We should first warn the Maoists before leaving the government,” a leader quoted Thakur as saying.
The Morcha said the proposed 11-state model “compromised on the principles of federalism and has attempted to divide the Madhes”. The Morcha has sought a contiguous state in the Madhes. It said any deliberations on federalism should either be based on the report of the CA committee or a majority report of the State Restructuring Commission. Both these propose a maximum of two states in the plains.
Meanwhile, an informal meeting of office bearers of the Tarai Madhes Loktantrik Party-Nepal on Wednesday suggested the party pull out of the government. “Office bearers suggested that you cannot go for protests while in government, hence it is better to pull out,” said TMLP-N leader Dan Bahadur Chaudary. The Madhesi Janadhikar Forum-Ganatatrik is scheduled to hold its central committee meeting on Thursday to finalise the party’s position.
Madhesis, Janajatis call for alliance
Meanwhile, leaders from across the party line condemned the 11-state model as “anti-federal” and a result of the “dominant Brahman-Kahs mindset that has monopolised power” and called for unity among all marginalised groups, including the Madhesis and the Janajatis.
Leaders from the Nepali Congress, UCPN (Maoist) and constituent parties of the Samyukta Loktantrik Madhesi Morcha (SLMM) accused their leadership of going against the aspirations of the marginalised communities. They threatened a “collective movement,” which will include all the marginalised groups. They also stressed on unity among all marginalised groups to secure their rights through a federal constitution.
Speaking at a packed hall of Madhes Media House in the Capital on Wednesday, Madhesi leaders urged members of the SLMM to “quit the government and join the protest.”
Madhesi Janadhikar Forum-Loktantrik leader Sarad Singh Bhandari said the objective of the Morcha to stay in the government is over. Sadhbhawana Party Co-Chairman Laxman Lal Karna said the Morcha had joined the government on the basis of consensus, but “that was betrayed by Tuesday’s agreement”. He also accused the major parties of backtracking from their earlier commitment on judiciary—reappointment of judges, and size of the Judicial Council.
Mahesi Janadhikar Forum Chairman Upendra Yadav took a dig at the major parties, including the Morcha, and said a handful of leaders have rendered the Constituent Assembly ineffective. He said he was confident of an autonomous Madhes province with right to self determination.
Tharu activist Surendra Chaudary also called for unity among marginalised groups.
He accused the administration in the Far West of supporting members of the “undivided Far West” movement and systematically targeting Tharuhat state supporters.
the kathmandu post
The Morcha has primarily objected on two counts—delineation of the state boundaries and the naming of the states.
Leaders of the Morcha are under pressure from second-rung leaders of the constituent parties to pull out of the government and join agitations for a federal set-up that would ensure identity-based provinces.
A meeting of the Morcha on Wednesday, however, could not take a decision. Leaders who attended the talks said deliberations are on and that they are likely to reach a conclusion on Thursday. “Leaders presented their views with regard to staying in the government. The second-rung leaders urged the leadership to quit the government and hit the streets,” said General Secretary of Sadhbhawana Party Manish Suman. As the leaders held the meeting, student leaders of Morcha-affiliated parties gathered outside the meeting hall at Singha Durbar and demanded the leadership step down.
In the meeting, Sadhbhawana Party Chairman Rajendra Mahato proposed pulling out of the government immediately.
The party has decided to pull out even if other Morcha partners decide to stay on, Suman said.
Chairman of the Madhesi Janadhikar Forum-Loktantrik Bijaya Kumar Gachhadar said all options must be explored, including forging a “strong alliance” with the Janajati groups, to press for the issues of identity and federalism before leaving the government.
“While I am ready to resign, that should be the last weapon in our armoury. We should first seek all the other options,” a leader quoted Gachchadar as saying.
Chairman of the Tarai Madhes Loktantrik Party Mahanta Thakur urged focusing on the “stated objectives for now”. “We should first warn the Maoists before leaving the government,” a leader quoted Thakur as saying.
The Morcha said the proposed 11-state model “compromised on the principles of federalism and has attempted to divide the Madhes”. The Morcha has sought a contiguous state in the Madhes. It said any deliberations on federalism should either be based on the report of the CA committee or a majority report of the State Restructuring Commission. Both these propose a maximum of two states in the plains.
Meanwhile, an informal meeting of office bearers of the Tarai Madhes Loktantrik Party-Nepal on Wednesday suggested the party pull out of the government. “Office bearers suggested that you cannot go for protests while in government, hence it is better to pull out,” said TMLP-N leader Dan Bahadur Chaudary. The Madhesi Janadhikar Forum-Ganatatrik is scheduled to hold its central committee meeting on Thursday to finalise the party’s position.
Madhesis, Janajatis call for alliance
Meanwhile, leaders from across the party line condemned the 11-state model as “anti-federal” and a result of the “dominant Brahman-Kahs mindset that has monopolised power” and called for unity among all marginalised groups, including the Madhesis and the Janajatis.
Leaders from the Nepali Congress, UCPN (Maoist) and constituent parties of the Samyukta Loktantrik Madhesi Morcha (SLMM) accused their leadership of going against the aspirations of the marginalised communities. They threatened a “collective movement,” which will include all the marginalised groups. They also stressed on unity among all marginalised groups to secure their rights through a federal constitution.
Speaking at a packed hall of Madhes Media House in the Capital on Wednesday, Madhesi leaders urged members of the SLMM to “quit the government and join the protest.”
Madhesi Janadhikar Forum-Loktantrik leader Sarad Singh Bhandari said the objective of the Morcha to stay in the government is over. Sadhbhawana Party Co-Chairman Laxman Lal Karna said the Morcha had joined the government on the basis of consensus, but “that was betrayed by Tuesday’s agreement”. He also accused the major parties of backtracking from their earlier commitment on judiciary—reappointment of judges, and size of the Judicial Council.
Mahesi Janadhikar Forum Chairman Upendra Yadav took a dig at the major parties, including the Morcha, and said a handful of leaders have rendered the Constituent Assembly ineffective. He said he was confident of an autonomous Madhes province with right to self determination.
Tharu activist Surendra Chaudary also called for unity among marginalised groups.
He accused the administration in the Far West of supporting members of the “undivided Far West” movement and systematically targeting Tharuhat state supporters.
the kathmandu post
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