Madhesi parties would resort to the blockade of KTM valley: Chairman Mahato

KATHMANDU, July 5: Chairman of the Sadbhawana Party Mr. Rajendra Mahato has warned that Madhesi parties would resort to the blockade of the Kathmandu Valley if the final draft of new constitution failed to address their demands.

Speaking at an interaction program organised by the Reporters’ Club Nepal on today, the chairman said the Madhesi parties were soon launching an “unprecedented” movement in the Tarai region, which would include  blocking supplies and basic food items to the Capital.

According to him, he had been persuading other parties to leave the Constituent Assembly and resort to the protest. Speaking at the program presided by the Club’s President Rishi Dhamala, he said “We, however, will wait till the final draft of statute.”

If the new constitution ignored agendas of the Madhesis then the statute could not be implemented, he said. “Voters of Nepali Congress, CPN-UML and UCPN-Maoist themselves will join the protests,” Mahato added.

Federalism was never possible in the nation if the new constitution could not set up Pradeshes with boundaries, he claimed.

Mahato claimed that neighbouring India had been supporting the agendas of Madhesi parties. Leaders of Madhesi parties and some Madhesi leaders from the major parties had recently met the Indian Ambassador to Nepal, Ranjit Rae. India is for a constitution that complies with past agreements, he added.