Demands for recognition, provincial autonomy and proportional representation have always been there
For 60 years Madhesh has been trying to get its concerns addressed by Kathmandu. But it has never been as vocal it is as now. Madheshi voice was in the past suppressed, either by the autocratic monarchy or internal weaknesses of Madheshis themselves.Demands for recognition, provincial autonomy and proportional representation have always been there. Therefore, the assumption that Madhesh movement emerged only after 2007 is misleading. History of Madhesh movement goes back to 1950s. In this time Kathmandu either ignored Madhesh or betrayed it. So Kathmandu is responsible for the current turmoil in southern plains.
The new constitution denies provincial autonomy and proportional representation and has sabotaged all past agreements between Madheshis and the government. Kathmandu has failed to live up to progressive republican principle and hardened its oppressive image.
Kathmandu's interpretations of results of second CA polls were fundamentally flawed. The parties in power assumed that Madheshi votes in their favour meant they could promulgate the constitution as they liked, by shelving federalism. But Madheshis had given two mandates to parties in second CA polls. First, they had rejected Madheshi leaders in first CA who turned out to be selfish and soon forgot Madheshi agenda. Second, Madheshi people entrusted national parties with drafting a constitution that would address Madheshi concerns. If their concerns were ignored, went the message, Madheshis would rise up for another decisive movement for their rights.
If the ruling parties had accommodated Madheshi concerns in the constitution, they would have earned trust of Madheshi community, for now and for the future. But they ignored the writing on the wall and Madhesh as a result is burning.
Even when the agitation has claimed nearly 50 lives Tarai, Kathmandu is busy demonizing India to cover up real problems of Madheshi people. The international community has also said that the new constitution is discriminatory towards Madheshis and exclusionary in nature. But Kathmandu-based analysts have dismissed all such faults and are highlighting the humanitarian crisis as "caused" by India.
This shows that Kathmandu is bent on delegating Madheshis to the status of second-class citizens. This approach has aggravated the crisis in Madhesh.
Wooing China and demonizing India is not the way to go about it. We need a balanced approach to survive as a nation, given our strategic location between China and India. India bashing does not help one bit.
Kathmandu intellectuals and mainstream media have painted Madhesh movement as an Indian design while they conveniently forget that there is complete lack of will among ruling parties to engage with Madhesh. This has pushed Madheshis away from the centre and seriously affected age-old Indo-Nepal diplomatic ties, which will now take years to normalize.
Ruling parties should understand that Madhesh movement is not superficial nor is it limited to political aspirations of a select few or backed by any external force. It is public sentiment held by general Madheshis who have lived not just in deprivation but also with serious identity crisis for 60 years. It needs to be dealt with caution.
The movement is a result of historic discrimination and inherent bias of hill elites against Madheshis. Thus solution to Madheshi crisis can be found only if the ruling parties are ready to acknowledge Madheshi people's fight for dignity, self-respect and equality. Therefore the need of the hour is to make a sincere effort to understand Madhesh.
Kathmandu's indifference towards Madhesh has led to greater polarization and strained our social fabric. If the situation is not dealt with on time, we may witness an even greater crisis in the days to come.
It is high time to reach out to Madhesh. Anti-India nationalism has subjected the nation to a humanitarian crisis. Continuing with it will be dangerous.
kalpana.jha57@gmail.com