The party´s two-day interaction – ´Madhes problems: Challenges and Solutions – that concluded Friday failed to reach a solution due to serious differences among party leaders on how to address Madhesi issues.
Party insiders told myrepublica.com that Madhesi leaders strongly criticized the party leadership for failing to understand the spirit of Madhes. [break] The Madhesi leaders also stood by ´One Madhes, one Pradesh (one Madhes, one single province) as against the proposal of one Madhes and many Pradesh floated by those close to the party leadership.
"The leadership must stand by its past commitment on ´One Madhes One Pradesh´," said Dilip Sah, Siraha district in-charge of Maoist.
He said the Madhesi leaders will never accept any ideas short of one Madhes one Pradesh with the right to self-determination.
"If the party fails to understand the voice of Madhes, it won´t remain as a single party," he warned. He however refused to say what measures the Madhesi leaders including himself will take in case the party does not opt for ´One Madhes one Pradesh´.
Party chairman and Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal assured Madhesi leaders that the party leadership was sympathetic toward Madhesi leaders´ concerns, said one of the participants in the interaction.
"The government will announce measures in the next few days addressing Madhesi issues," the participant quoted Dahal as saying.
However, party spokesperson Dinanath Sharma said that a majority of Madhesi leaders proposed ´One Madhes and many Pradesh, and not ´One Madhes, one Pradesh´.
He said Madhes issue should not be viewed in isolation. "Madhes issue has become a national issue and we should not view this problem through the perspective of caste. It is purely a class-based issue," he said.
Sharma also informed that the party secretariat will incorporate all the ideas floated during the meeting and take concrete policy on Madhes issues."
A participant at the meeting said majority Madhesi leaders during the meeting asked the party leadership to solicit suggestion from people in the Tarai before taking any decision in haste.
The Madhesi leaders said that other Madhes-based political parties, especially Tarai Madhes Democratic Party, are trying to gain larger support from Madhesi people by criticizing Maoist over the issue of Madhes.
A Madhesi leader, preferring to remain unnamed, accused the party leadership of being treacherously lopsided over the issue of Madhes.
"The conventional Pahadi-mindset of our leadership hasn´t yet changed, which is very dangerous," he said.
He charged that the party leadership is becoming anti-Madhesis.
The leader said the Madhesi people have sacrificed their lives for ´One Madhes one Pradesh´ with the right to self-determination. "How can the party leadership now say it can´t accept ´One Madhes one Pradesh´ since it secured victory in Madhes due to the very slogan," he said. The leader warned that the Madhesi leaders in the party might revolt if their demand was ignored.
Solidarity with Matrika Yadav
The Madhesi leaders strongly criticized the party leadership for trying to "minimize" the role of Matrika Yadav.
The leaders also accused the leadership of promoting another Madhesi leader Prabhu Sah to marginalize Yadav.
"The leadership must understand that thousands of people in Madhes voted for Maoist party just because of Matrika. If Prachandaji (party chairman Dahal) fails to understand this issue, it will invite serious consequences in the party," a Madhesi leader preferring to remain unnamed told myrepublica.com.
"Matrika must get responsibilities in the party. He has made huge contribution to the party and it must be respectfully honored," the leader said.
ghanashyam@myrepublica.com
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