Preparation for 11-point deal with govt was made inside the jail: CK Raut (With video)

KATHMANDU, May 1: Janamat Party Chair CK Raut has said that the preparation for agreement with the government was made inside the jail.

Raut–who was leading the Alliance for the Independent Madhes advocating for the establishment of independent Madhes and end to racism, slavery and discrimination imposed on Madhesi people–in a dramatic turn of events, reached an 11-point agreement with the government on March 8.

Talking to Rishi Dhamala on a popular television talk show Janata Janna Chahanchan, Raut claimed that agreement with the government was done as per the mandate given by the people.

“I did not agree to reach the deal with the government due to pressure from the international community,” he said.

“The deal was a need of the hour and as demanded by the people,” he added.

“All the preparation for establishing consensus with the government were made inside the jail,” said Raut, who was in judicial custody and had received a release order from the Supreme Court only a day ago when he and the government signed the deal.

Various sources had reported that Raut was holding talks with the government for a week.

After the agreement, Raut announced he was joining national mainstream politics and abandoning his secessionist movement he was leading since 2007. Ten days later, Raut formed his Janamat Party.

However, the government’s decision to welcome the leader of separatist movement into national politics heated a fresh debate within the ruling Nepal Communist Party (NCP) and among others including the main opposition Nepali Congress. A portion of NCP leaders argued Raut has not mentioned anywhere that he has quit his secessionist movement while opposition NC referred the point two of the agreement as “call for a referendum”.

Instead, Raut accused the regional parties Federal Socialist Forum Nepal (FSFN) led by Deputy Prime Minister Upendra Yadav and Rastriya Janata Party Nepal (RJPN) of being secessionist.

“Yadav and RJPN’s Mahanta Thakur conspired to send me to jail,” he vented ire, “they have always managed to find something to put accusation on me.”

He also accused Province 2 Chief Minister Lalbabu Raut of exploiting the Madhesi people.

“The regional parties will be swept away in the next elections,” he added.

“We fully accept the Constitution of Nepal,” Raut said

“The door to the agreement was opened because our activities were not against the spirit of the constitution,” he claimed.

Raut clarified he demanded independent Madhes because the Madhesi people were discriminated.