PM reassures UDMF on budget demands

KATHMANDU, July 2: Prime Minister Jhalanath Khanal has assured the United Democratic Madhesi Front (UDMF) that the government would incorporate the demands put forth by Madhes-based parties in the upcoming budget.



Receiving a letter of demands submitted by the five constituent parties of UDMF on Saturday, Prime Minister Khanal said the government will unveil a new budget on the basis of consensus with all the parties. [break]



Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Bharat Mohan Adhikari, who was present at the meeting, also assured leaders of the Madhesi parties that he would incorporate the UDMF demands in the annual budget. “The demands raised by the UDMF do not belong to Madhes alone. They are the agenda of the country itself,” Atma Ram Sah, general secretary of Madhesi People´s Rights Forum-Republican (MPRF-R), quoted Adhikari as saying at the meeting.



On the occasion, the Madhesi leaders warned that they would obstruct the budget session of parliament if the government fails to incorporate their budgetary demands.



On a separate note, Madhesi leaders also drew the attention of Home Minister Krishna Bahadur Mahara to the citizenship problem and talks with armed outfits operating in the Tarai. In response, Mahara said that he would take steps in this regard as soon as possible.



The UDMF has demanded that the government allocate Rs 5 million to establish schools in the names of each of the 52 martyrs of the Madhes movement in their respective districts. The front has also demanded Rs 20 million for the treatment and rehabilitation of those injured during that movement.



Similarly, the UDMF has demanded allocation of a sufficient budget for the construction of postal roads and the proposed East-West Railway in the Tarai, subsidies on seeds and chemical fertilizer for farmers and customs exemption in the import of agricultural tools.



In the 15-point memorandum, the Madhes-based parties have warned the government not to take any decision with long-term ramifications as the current government enjoys only a ´caretaker status´ following the five-point deal reached before extension of the Constituent Assembly term on May 28.



The UDMF has asked the government to ensure proportional representation of all the parties in constitutional bodies. Likewise, they have asked the government to give due priority to bureaucrats of Madhesi origin in promotions and appointments to the posts of government secretaries, chief district officers and ambassadors. The parties have asked the government to immediately table a bill that would make government services inclusive of all groups.

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