MPRF, NSP announce United Madhesi Front, fresh stir

http://www.kantipuronline.com/kolnews.php?nid=130544
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KATHMANDU, Dec 7 - Madhesi People's Rights Forum (MPRF) led by Upendra Yadav and Nepal Sadbhawana Party (NSP) headed by Rajendra Mahato have put forth their main demand for proclamation of the entire Madhesh as an auton-omous state, and announced the launch of fresh demonstrations starting December 30.
The decision was made public at a function organized to formally announce a working alliance and formation of a new body called the United Madhesi Front (UMF), Friday.

Speaking on the occasion, Upendra Yadav, central coordinator of the MPRF, claimed that the present government has lost its legitimacy as it failed to fulfill two of the tasks ---holding CA poll and establishing republic --- mandated to it by the people through the April Uprising. He demanded abolition of the coalition government and formation of an independent caretaker government inclusive of all democratic forces and civil society members to hold the CA poll in free and fair manner.

Yadav said the seven-party coalition government was pushing the country towards further confusion and uncertainty by deferring the much-awaited Constituent Assembly (CA) poll yet another time. "There is no alternative to the CA poll to address the grievances of all marginalized groups including Madhesis, Dalits, Janajatis and women," he added.

Rajendra Mahato, president of NSP, said the UMF was formed after realizing that it was simply impossible to secure the rights of the Madhesi people by fighting separately for that common cause. He alleged that the government was always devising a policy of divide and rule against Madhesi people.

Mahato also announced that the NSP and MPRF would jointly to go to the CA poll to help secure their demands for the whole of Madhesh as a federal autonomous state and a fully proportionate electoral system for the upcoming CA polls. A 17-point UMF declaration was also issued on the occasion. Among other things, the declaration includes demands for a caretaker national government, constitutional recognition of regional political parties, a fresh census, recognition of Hindi as an official language and proportionate participation of Madhesis in all state structures.

Posted on: 2007-12-07 20:50:41 (Server Time)