United Democratic Madhesi Front (UDMF), the alliance of agitating parties, held a press conference Monday afternoon and said the government had ruined the environment for talks that had turned positive after it proposed a roadmap for developing broader political consensus for a constitutional amendment to settle the issue of provincial delineation.
“When the government itself ruins the environment for talks by using live bullets on protestors and imposing a curfew again, there is a serious question over the relevance of sitting for talks,” said Tarai-Madhes Democratic Party (TMDP) Vice-Chairman Hridayash Tripathi.
However, in an official press release, they only said that excessive use of force has brought about a situation that could end the environment for talks and political negotiations.
“Following Sunday’s talks, we thought that the government had turned serious about addressing our demands but we were astonished by news that police used force to vacate protestors from Miteri Bridge and fired live bullets to kill and maim,” said Tripathi.
He alleged that Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli and Home Minister Shakti Basnet were plotting to ruin the environment for talks.
“We had asked the government talks team to clarify about the possibility of use of force against us since we were receiving information that preparations were being made to suppress the protest and also deploy the Nepal Army. They had denied any such possibility,” said Tripathi.
He said the Oli government has started following in the footsteps of the previous government and started killing Madhesis again.
“After what happened at Miteri Bridge, we have called on the home minister not to worsen the situation further, but he just imposed a curfew,” claimed Tripathi.
Tripathi informed that Madhesi leaders have called on members of the government talks team and UCPN (Maoist) Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal, the coordinator of the high level committee of the ruling coalition, not to further worsen the situation.
“We have urged the government side to be responsible and play a role to create a favorable environment for talks,” the press release stated.
Asked about the involvement of Indian citizens in their protest programs, pointing out that the person who died in Birgunj on Monday was an Indian, the Madhesi leaders urged understanding for the cultural and traditional relations between Madhesis and Indians.
“We have family-to-family relations with Indians in the bordering areas. If you hit us and kill us, they will obviously feel bad and could come to support us. But, how could the state shoot people in the head?” questioned Sadbhavana Party Co-Chairman Laxman Lal Karna.
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