Tharu organizations, parties join forces against inclusion bill

KATHMANDU, Feb 21: Tharu United Struggle Committee, a newly formed alliance of 10 various Tharu organizations and political parties, has warned of taking to the streets if the government implements the inclusion bill approved by the cabinet meeting last week.



The alliance formed on Monday issued a 15-day ultimatum to the government to amend the inclusion bill that proposes 26 percent -- up from the existing 24 percent -- reservation for Madhesis. [break]



The alliance has termed the proposed reservation as being against the interest of the Tharu community.



The cabinet on February 14 had approved the inclusion bill, in which 25 percent -- down from the existing 27 percent -- quota in public services has been allocated to indigenous groups.



“If the government fails to address our concerns within the next 15 days, we will stage protests against the bill,” said Chandra Kumar Chaudhari, chairman of Tharu Kalyankarini Sabha, a constituent group of the Tharu alliance Tuesday afternoon. He said, “We will stage protests both in parliament and the streets.”



Lawmaker Rukmini Chaudhari, who is associated with Sanghiya Loktanatrik Rastriya Manch (Tharuhat), warned of obstructing parliamentary proceedings if the bill is not amended before it get endorsed in parliament.



“Our colleagues outside parliament will take to the streets while we 37 Tharu lawmakers will obstruct parliamentary proceedings,” he said.



Chairman of Tharuhat Tarai party-Nepal Laxman Tharu argued that the proposed bill is not in the interest of the nation.



Adding that it would be unacceptable to them if Tharus are identified as Madhesis, he stated, “Now, the government has to clarify who the Madhesis are.” He also warned that they would overthrow the government led by Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai, if it fails to address their concerns within the given deadline.



The alliance has also warned major political parties against signing any agreement on state restructuring without taking the Tharu community into confidence.

He argued that Tharu as an indigenous group has preferential rights to draw the provincial map in the Tharuhat region.



Tharu Rastriya Mukti Morcha, an ethnic organization of the UCPN (Maoist), and Nepal Loktantrik Tharu Sangh of CPN-UML are among other constituent parties in the Tharu alliance.

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