Tharu Kalyankari Sabha (TKS), a representative body of indigenous Tharu community, burned down copies of the drafts prepared by 11 different committees under the Constituent Assembly (CA), demanding multiple states in the plains in order to ensure rights of indigenous people living in Terai.

The TKS has been saying that there should be more than two states in Terai unlike what has been proposed in the draft passed by the state restructuring committee.

Addressing a gathering following a protest rally at Naya Baneshwor, TKS general secretary Raj Kumar Lekhi described the draft on state restructuring committee, which proposes 14 states, is unjustifiable.

"12 states have been proposed for hilly and mountainous regions whereas only two states have been proposed in Terai. This is sheer injustice to Terai people," said he.

Madhesi parties are cheating the people living in the plains by pressuring for creating only two states, he added.

Tharus and representatives of Muslims and Terai-based Dalit communities participated in the protest programme. nepalnews.com