With thousands of Madhesis indulging in scuffles with the Nepal police protesting against the new Constitution and pressing for their demands over adequate representation and re-demarcation of provincial boundary, the disquiet in Nepal on the issue came out in the open once again on Sunday.
Traffic movement was disrupted in the vicinity of Singhdurbar, the main administrative complex of the country, for hours due to the demonstration. About 2,000 protesters gathered at Singhdurbar and Nayabaneshwor areas, an hour before the government office open. They forcefully tried to enter the prohibited areas, triggering a scuffle with riot police who were deployed to guard the important government offices.
The protesters were carrying placards with anti-government and pro-Madhesi slogans. The leaders and cadres of Federal Alliance, the grouping of seven Madhes-based political parties and 22 other ethnic groups, also joined them. The United Democratic Madhesi Front (UDMF), an alliance of seven Madhes-based parties, accused Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli’s government of using excessive force to suppress their agitation demanding more Constitutional representation. “The government is not serious enough to address the issues raised by the agitating Madhesi parties through dialogue,” the Front had said. The outburst was expected following the political developments of the past few days with the near fall of the Oli government in the Himalayan Republic and recalling of its envoy Deep Upadhyay. The Foreign Office in Kathmandu had recalled its envoy in New Delhi without assigning any reason. This was a clear indication of relations once again straining between New Delhi and Kathmandu.
The major demands of Madhesis, mostly of Indian-origin, include re-demarcation of the seven province model of the federal structure, inclusiveness and proportionate representation of marginalised groups and ethnic minorities including the Madhesis, indigenous groups and Dalits in all the state bodies.