“We will obstruct parliament from endorsing the upcoming budget as the government has politically ignored our sentiments,” said Jaya Prakash Prasad Gupta, chairman of Madhesi People´s Rights Forum-Republican (MPRF-R), adding, “Minister for Finance Bharat Mohan Adhikari did not even discuss our demands with us on Sunday.”[break]
UDMF had submitted a six-point memorandum to Adhikari Sunday, at Singha Durbar.
Chairman of Sadbhawan Party Rajendra Mahato also confirmed that they would not let the government introduce the upcoming budget.
“The three major political parties -- UCPN (Maoist), Nepali Congress (NC) and CPN-UML -- did not hold talks with us. It is not certain that the government will address our demands. That´s why we will obstruct parliament," Mahato told Republica.
The parties associated with UDMF are likely to issue a whip to their lawmakers on Tuesday, instructing them to stand against the budget.
“We the political parties associated with UDMF are going to issue a whip to our lawmakers, asking them not to be absent from the capital on Thursday,” Atmaram Sah, general secretary of MPRF-R, said.
UDMF, which comprises Madhesi People´s Right Forum-Democratic (MPRF-D), (MPRF-R), Tarai-Madhes Democratic Party (TMDP), TMDP-Nepal and SP, have altogether 70 lawmakers between them.
Madhes leaders try to woo Tharus
In a bid to forge common position on state restructuring issue, Tharu and Madhes-based party leaders have initiated secret talks from Monday. They held the initial meeting at a resort in Dhulikhel on Monday.
Bijay Gachchhadar, the chairman of Madhesi People´s Rights Forum-Democratic (MPRF-D), MPRF-Republican Chairman JP Gupta, Sadbhavana Party Chairman Rajendra Mahato, Hirdayesh Tripathi, the vice-chairman of Tarai-Madhes Democratic Party (TMDP) and Tharu leaders Raj Kumar Lekhi, Rukmini Chaudhary, Yogendra Chaudhary and Satya Narayan Chaudhary were among those present at the secret talks.
According to sources, the Madhes-based parties will try to woo Tharu leaders to accept Madhes state at the meetings. However, a senior Tharu leader told Republica that it was difficult to arrive at a common ground as Madhesi leaders want Tharus to identify themselves as Madhesis. Tharu leaders have ruled out the possibility of forming a Madhes state saying existence of such a state could exterminate Tharu community. Tharu Kalyan Karini Sabha has called strikes on several occasions in the past against the proposal of forming Madhes State.
The secret meeting between Tharu and Madhesi leader will continue on Tuesday as well, according to leaders.
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