Organizing a press conference, Tharu Kalyankarini Sabha, Nepal Loktantrik Tharu Sangh, Nepal Swashasit Tharu Sangh, Nepal Prajatantrik Tharu Sangh, Nepal Loktantrik Tharu Sangh (Samajbadi), Tharu Yuwa Sabha, Tharu Mahila Sabha and Tharu Karmachari Sabha protested the proposal of the Constituent Assembly Committee on State Restructuring and Distribution of State Powers to delineate just two federal states for the entire Tarai region. [break]
Tharu Kalyankari Sabha General Secretary Raj Kumar Lekhi said the proposal to delineate only two federal states in the Tarai has come about in the interest of the elite classes in both the Hills and the Tarai.
“This comes to perpetuate their exploitation against indigenous people, Dalits, Janjatis, Muslims and minorities living in the Tarai since time immemorial,” he added.
Lekhi also alleged that the Madhesi leaders have conspired to rule unilaterally over the Tharus by turning the Tharuhat region into a single federal state. Lekhi asked why the Tarai cannot have more than two federal states if the Hills region can have 12 federal states.
Tharu bodies maintained that people can enjoy more benefits and other opportunities if there is a greater number of federal states.
The Tharu organizations have also vowed to expose elements bent on cheating the Tarai people by delineating a small number of federal states and impose old style rule in the Tarai in the name of federalism.
The agitating Tharu organizations have announced various protest programs to exert pressure on the government to meet their demands. The protests are also aimed at exerting pressure for drafting a new, democratic constitution on the stipulated date of May 28, 2010 with guaranteed rights for ethnic communities and minorities.
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