The 17-point proposal issued by the assembly was made public in Bharatpur today amidst a news conference. Through the proposal the UML has expressed deep concern over the unruly and violent activities that have occurred in course of the general strike, shutdown, disturbance and agitation going on in the Tarai-Madhes since the last four months and their dire impact on public life.
Drawing the serious attention of the government to the destruction of public properties and the vandalism at the offices of the different political parties, attack on ambulance, passenger buses and private vehicles, setting fire to the human rights commission vehicle and burning a consignment of life-saving medicines by the Front cadres in the name of the agitation, the proposal has urged it to take effective measures for safeguarding the life and property of the citizens, ensuring the freedom of unrestricted movement and easing the supplies.
The party also brought to the notice of the government activities carried out by the Front cadres as arson attack on the houses and residences of the elected people's representatives and barring them from traveling to their home districts.
The UML National Cadres Assembly has also expressed support to the understanding reached among the major political parties regarding taking ahead the constitution amendment bill on the proportional inclusive participation and delineation of the electoral constituencies registered in the Legislature-Parliament; discussing the issue of demarcation of the border of the provinces and making provisions in the constitution on this based on political consensus as well as finalizing the province delineation issue within three months by forming a political committee; and calling on the agitating parties to withdraw the protest programs.
The Assembly likewise expressed deep concern over the serious humanitarian crisis resulting from the undeclared border blockade imposed by India since the last two and half months, concluding that it was against the UN and SAARC charters as well as the treaties and agreements between Nepal and India. It has drawn India's serious attention to the need of easing the supplies by immediately lifting the border blockade and taking the bilateral relations to a state of cordiality as per previous status taking into consideration that such a situation of unease resulting from the blockade could harm the age-old friendship and people-to-people relations between the two countries.
The two-day assembly expressed heartfelt thanks to the United Nations Organization, the United States of America, the European Union, various friendly countries including Japan and the political parties of India, the Indian MPs and the Indian nationals and all those expressing solidarity to Nepal and the Nepali people during the difficulty and pain they endured. The assembly also extended special thanks to friendly country China for expressing its goodwill towards Nepal by providing petroleum products at a time the country was reeling under acute fuel crisis due to the border blockade.
The gathering has demanded that the government should initiate special package for the Dalits, marginalised and backward groups and Muslims living in the Tarai-Madhes, apart from taking effective initiations to end poverty, unemployment, illiteracy, violence against women, racial discrimination and untouchability among others.
Acknowledging significant role of the Madhesi community in various democratic movements in the past and for safeguarding nationality, the participants said that they would initiate in ending all kinds of discriminatory behaviors against people living in the Tarai-Madhes, while valuing their languages and culture.
Similarly, the proposal has also decided to draw attention of the government towards releasing adequate budget and complete projects like Kathmandu-Tarai Fast Track, postal highway, Nijgadh International Airport, Bhairahawa Regional International Airport and Janakpur Airport among others.
Likewise, it has also decided to draw attention of the government towards initiating the East-West Railway, Sunkoshi-Kamala and Kaligandaki-Tinau diversions and Dang valley irrigation and drinking water project among others, apart from forwarding concrete concept for the development of Tarai-Madhes in commercialising agriculture, promoting industrialism and managing urbanization among others.
The gathering has also drawn attention of the government towards taking effective steps in making the country self-dependent and inter-dependent through trade diversification and opening and expanding alternative border points for the import of essentials.
Meanwhile, making public the proposal, Yogesh Bhattarai, UML central publicity department chief, said that there was a big participation and the gathering was a success. RSS
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