Maoist Madhes wing protests ban on Indian vehicles

KATHMANDU, Oct 15: Madhesi National Liberation Front (MNLF), the Madhesi wing of UCPN (Maoist), on Monday launched a three-day sit-in in the capital and major cities of the Tarai -- Janakpur, Bhairahawa and Nepalgunj -- against the ban on vehicles with Indian number plates by the CPN-Maoist.



MNLF also submitted a 31-point demand to Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai.[break]



MNLF has claimed that the ban will break the relation of bread and daughter with India. CPN-Maoist has been obstructing vehicles with Indian number plates except for those carrying gas, petrol and medicine.



“The obstruction is against the Madhesi people. It breaks the relation of bread and daughter with India,” said Ram Rijhan Yadav, general secretary of MNLF. He added that the first phase of protest completed on Monday and they would soon announce the second phase of protests. Yadav said that the Madhesi people have been hit hard by the ban.



However, Yadav expressed agreement with the CPN-Maoist´s demand for strict rules for allowing Indian vehicles in Nepal. According to the CPN-Maoist, Nepali vehicles are facing various difficulties in India despite fulfilling all the requirements but Indian vehicles are allowed in Nepal without fulfilling requirements.

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