Stop recruitment of Madhesi youths in NA: Lekhi

PALPA, Dec 21: President of Nepal Federation of Indigenous Nationalities Rajkumar Lekhi has taken strong exception to the government decision to recruit 3,000 Madhesi youths in the Nepal Army (NA), saying such a decision is not acceptable to people from the indigenous community.



Speaking at a press meet on Wednesday, Lekhi has also warned of protests if the decision is implemented. [break]



Accusing the Madhesi leaders of doing injustice to the indigenous people in the name of Madhesis, Lekhi said that there has been adequate representation of the Madhesi community in every organ of the state since the Rana regime while the indigenous people have been neglected.



“If there has been any representation from Tarai people in higher posts, it is only from the Madhesi community,” he said, adding, “But others, including Tharus, have been deprived of such opportunities.” He also claimed that the Madhesi community comprises only nine percent of the population and not 14 percent as claimed by Madhesi leaders.



The government should identify ethnic groups in the Tarai, he added.



Meanwhile, Chairman of CPN (United) Chandra Dev Joshi has said that the decision of the government to recruit 3,000 Madhesis into NA would be disastrous.



He said his party withdrew support from the government after the incumbent government and the Madhesi Morcha inked the secret four-point deal.

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