A meeting of Sahyog ra Sampadan Samiti, UDMF´s body entrusted with offering suggestions on key political issues to the alliance, on Tuesday concluded that the Madhesi parties must quit the government if they can´t exert pressure for implementation of Madhesi issues in the four-point agreement signed between the UCPN (Maoist) and the UDMF on August 29. [break]
“We spent about four months in the government hoping that issues raised by Madhesi parties would be addressed but the UDMF has not been able to make any substantial progress,” said Sarbadev Ojha, a member of the Samiti, adding, “Hence, we don´t have a moral ground to stay in the government.”
He said the Madhesi alliance has failed to further the issues -- bill on inclusion, citizenship, withdrawal of cases filed against Madhesi leaders and cadres, among others -- incorporated in the four point agreement.
Ojha opined that the Madhesi alliance could still support the government by opting out.
Asked about the steps the alliance would take if the demands are not met, another member of the Samiti Atmaram Sah said, “In that case we will let our ministers stay in power while we would take to the streets.”
Sah, who is the general secretary of Madhesi People´s Rights Forum-Republican (MPRF-R), argued that there is no point in UDMF staying in the government if Madhesi ministers can not push Madhesi agendas.
He said they have demanded a UDMF meeting by Sunday as Deputy Prime Minister Bijay Kumar Gachchhadar would return home from Beijing on Saturday. Gachchhadar is in Beijing on a five-day visit to China.
UDMF second rung leaders have accused Gachchhadar of not pushing the Madhesi agendas seriously.
“We doubt the assurance from Madhesi ministers that Madhesi issues would be implemented,” said a member of the Samiti on condition of anonymity.
He claimed that the coming UDMF meeting would discuss if the Madhesi alliance should continue to remain in the government.
Related story
UDMF rejects new amendment bill
_20230226123652.jpg)
