ITAHARI, Nov 27: Top leaders of United Democratic Madhesi Front (UDMF) canceled their visit to Itahari in Sunsari district after a group of local youths vandalized and torched the stage from which they were set to address a rally on Friday.
Following the incident, Chairman of Federal Socialist Forum Nepal Upendra Yadav, Chairman of Tarai Madhes Democratic Party (TMDP) Mahantha Thakur and Chairman of Sadhbhawana Party (SP) Rajendra Mahato and Chairman of Sanghiya Limbuwan Party Nepal Kumar Lingden, among others, did not turn up at the venue.
After staging a demonstration against the leaders of agitating UDMF, the youths vandalized and set the stage on fire constructed at Khetikhola of Itahari municipality ward number one. The group shouted slogans against the UDMF and India during the demonstration.
Following the incident, Itahari area remained tense. In light of the tension, a large number of police was deployed in Itahari to prevent any untoward incident.
However, the organizer Sanghiya Gathbandhan held the program at 2 pm after constructing a new stage, but no top UDMF leader arrived to address the program.
Addressing the program, Lingden said that the program was aimed at strengthening social harmony but it failed.
“The divisive mindset of Nepali Congress, UML and lately the UCPN-Maoists has resulted in the failure of the program,” Lingden said.
He attributed the current problems concerning federal demarcation to the lack of people's participation in the process. “Now Sanghiya Gathbandhan would lead the ongoing movement to the decisive level and unseat the government,” he added.
According to Lingden, the Gathabandhan will organize a program in the capital on December 13 to show its strength.
After the program was over, youths affiliated to major political parties had once again taken to the streets to protest against UDMF.
Issuing a press release, FSFN Chairman Upendra Yadav on Friday accused the government of foiling the mass assembly in Itahari in a planned manner.
“Vandalism and torching of stage with the help of UML leaders and students have drawn our attention,” Yadav said in a press statement. “The act revealed the undemocratic, authoritarianism and irresponsible character of the government.”
The statement reads that the incident indicates that the government is willing to push the nation toward further crisis rather than resolving it through dialogues.
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