The ruling United Democratic Madhesi Front (UDMF), an alliance of five Madhes-based political parties, Broader Madhesi Front (BMF), an alliance of cross-party Madhesi lawmakers, Nepal Federation of Indigenous Nationalities (NEFIN) and Unified Newa National Liberation Front have objected the agreement saying it was a conspiracy to thwart identity-based federalism. [break]
A meeting of the Madhesi alliance held in Singha Durbar on Tuesday evening decided not to accept the agreement.
“UDMF makes it clear that it completely disagrees with the proposal of three political parties to form the so-called 11 provinces by ignoring the issue of identity," read the press statement signed by Chairman of Madhesi People´s Rights Forum-Democratic (MPRF-D) Bijay Gachchhadar, MPRF-Republican Acting Chairman Rajkishor Yadav, Vice-Chairman of Tarai Madhes Democratic Party (TMDP) Hridayah Tripathi, Chairman of TMDP-Nepal Mahendra Yadav and Sadbhawan Party (SP) Chairman Rajendra Mahato.
"It urges all Madhesi, Tharu, indigenous, Dalit, Muslim communities and other pro-federalist forces to unite for the state restructuring based on identity.”
“The parties briefed us about the agreement on the contentious issues, but we expressed our disagreement as it was not be acceptable to us,” General Secretary of MPRF-R Atmaram Sah quoted Gachchhadar as saying in the meeting.
According to SP Vice-Chairman Laxmanlal Karna, the UDMF meeting ruled out media reports that the Madhesi alliance was involved in the agreement.
He said if questionnaires for voting in the CA were prepared by ignoring reports of the State Restructuring Commission (SRC) and the Constituent Assembly (CA) committee on state restructuring, it would not be acceptable to the Madhesi alliance.
The Madhesi alliance has also objected to the agreement on electing 5 members each from provinces for the upper house saying it was against the recommendation of the CA committee on state restructuring which had said it should be on the basis of geography and population.
Karna said they also have reservations that judges would not be re-appointed which the CA committee on state restructuring had already decided that judges would be reappointed on the basis of inclusiveness and proportional representation.
The BMF termed the agreement as being against the accepted basis of the state restructuring and against the agreements reached between Madhes-based political parties and governments during Madhes Movement.
Similarly, the NEFIN also denounced the agreement. “To promulgate the constitution without first demarcating state borders and naming them amounts to betrayal of the people," a press statement issued by Chairman of NEFIN Rajkumar Lekhi said.
Also, the Newa Front said the agreement was a conspiracy to continue old feudal state structure.
However, leaders of major parties said the issues raised by the Madhesi parties can be resolved through negotiations and it would not affect the promulgation of the new constitution.
Talking to media after the meeting of dispute resolution sub-committee, Maoist Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal said though the UDMF had some reservation they would not obstruct the promulgation of the new constitution.
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