KATHMANDU, March 11: Though the agitating Tharu groups and the government agreed on Wednesday to make amendments in the interim constitution and a controversial ordinance as demanded by the indigenous Tharus, there is no indication of an end to the ongoing Tharu-called strikes along the Tarai plains yet.[break]
The bone of contention now is the Tharus’ demand for proportional reservation in all public services for ethnic groups on the basis of population.
“If they (the government side) don’t come with a positive commitment to our demand of proportional representation tomorrow, we will continue our strikes,” Laxman Tharu, the leader of the Tharu team, told journalists after their 4-hour long talks with the government team comprising Peace Minister Janardan Sharma and Local Development Minister Ram Chandra Jha. The debilitating protests by the Tharus, that entered the 10th day Wednesday, are likely to continue.
Later, Sharma told journalists that though both the sides reached very close to an agreement, it couldn’t be achieved because it was not possible to make the public services inclusive through fully proportional system on the basis of population of various ethnic groups. “We told them that it is not possible now,” said Sharma.
“It is unfortunate that they didn’t heed our call of withdrawing the ongoing stir for the moment (when the negotiations are going on),” said the visibly dejected Sharma, adding that the government has made a number of decisions as demanded by the agitating Tharus. Sharma said the government accepts the separate identity of Tharus, janajatis and other minorities living in the Tarai.
Minister Jha said it will invite more problems in the future if the government agrees to the Tharus’ demand. “If we put our signatures on everything today, it will invite other problems tomorrow,” said Jha.
On the issue of a controversial ordinance that enlists indigenous Tharus under “Madhesi” category, the government side has agreed to amend it. The government side has also agreed to amend other laws that stand in the way of giving the Tharus separate identity.
The talks will continue Thursday.
Wednesday’s talks didn’t see participation of two prominent members – Raj Kumar Lekhi and Taj Mohammad Miya – who were present in the talks on Tuesday. They are in the mood of fresh protests by abandoning the talks with the government. Tharu groups had formed a nine-member talks team lead by Laxman Tharu, to hold negotiations with the government on Tuesday.
Govt, Tharus differ on replacing ´Madhes´ with ´Tarai´
Laxman Tharu, who is the leader of the Tharu Joint Struggle Committee, said the government side agreed to replace the word "Madhes" with "Tarai" in the Interim Constitution. “They have given the commitment to replace the word ‘Madhes’ with ‘Tarai’. They are ready for that,” said Tharu.
Later, Minister Sharma said that the government agreed to replace "Madhes" with "Tarai-Madhes".
Talking to myrepublica.com, spokesperson of Madhesi People’s Rights Forum (MPRF) Jitendra Dev said it won’t be acceptable for them to replace ‘Madhes’ with ‘Tarai’. “That (Tarai) is an English word,” said Dev. “We have cultural attachment with the word ‘Madhes’.” However, he said his party can agree to the use of ‘Tarai-Madhes’ instead of ‘Madhes’.
tilak@myrepublica.com
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