MJF's ultimatum draws closer; Yadav threatens to intensify agitation
Four days have already passed since the Madhesi Janadhikar Forum (MJF) announced on Thursday to suspend its bandhs and strikes for ten days, but the much-touted talks between the government and the MJF has not yet materialised triggering apprehensions among the general public.
The MJF has made no bones about its intention to continue their agitation from where they have left it in case the government does not remove Home Minister Krishna Prasad Sitaula.
"We have not abandoned our agitation. We only suspended it for ten days to create atmosphere for talks with the government. The government, too, should create atmosphere by removing the Home Minister," said Upendra Yadav, central president of the Forum.
"The state has conducted heinous crime against the people of Madhes. Around 38 have died and over hundreds injured in this genocide. The Home Minister must go," he said.
On Saturday, in their replies to the government's invitation for talks, the MJF has sent a letter laying down three preconditions: probe the Lahan incident; form a high level commission to probe atrocities against Madhesi people during agitation; and remove Sitaula. The MJF has been refusing to sit down for talks with the government team saying these conditions must be met first.
Yadav has warned that if the government chooses not to address their concerns, the agitation will resume with added intensity.
He said that the address by the Prime Minister on February 7 had only partially met their demands. "Still it is not clear what kind of federal structure they have in mind. We want autonomous Madhes province. Likewise, without full proportional representation-based electoral system, concerns of neither the Madhesi people nor the indigenous community will be fulfilled," he said. nepalnews.com sd Feb 11 07
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