Expressing serious concern over attempts being made to invent "a non-existent Madhes" in Terai parts of Nepal by resorting to "political blackmailing", ethnic Tharus have issued a strong warning against conspiracies to downplay their identity and existence. They also said that Constituent Assembly (CA) has been turned a "rubber stamp" to endorse such attempts
Thirteen different organisations working for the welfare of the Tharu community including the Tharu Welfare Assembly (TWA) issued a joint statement on Wednesday in protest of efforts being made to turn the entire "Tharuhat Terai region" into Madhes province through 'political blackmailing'. They said they would wage a movement against the deliberate attempt of what they called Madhesisation of Terai and also announced a number of protest programmes.
"It is not very hard to understand that the main aim of this political blackmailing is to downplay the identity and existence of the indigenous communities living in Terai and turn them into Madhesis," the statement said, adding that the closed door meetings (between seven parties and terai based parties) including political bargaining are all exercises to end the identity of the Tharus in their own land.
Stating that the big parties are being compelled to meet the "One Madhesh" demand - of declaring the whole of Terai (from Mechi to Mahakali) as a autonomous Madhes state - through threats and warnings, the Tharu organisations have said they would enforce a one-hour long transportation strike in Terai on June 4 and picket the CA venue on June 5.
In the statement signed by general secretary of TWA Raj Kumar Lekhi, an appeal has also been made to the civil society and general people to help stop "Madhesisation of Terai".
Major political parties like CPN (Maoist) and CPN (UML) have already raised their objection to the "One Madhes province" demand of Terai-based parties, describing it as a threat to national integrity. However, Nepali Congress (NC) has maintained that the demand of Terai-based parties (Madhesi parties) should be met, but haven't come clear on whether they support their demand for "One Madhes province".
On the other hand, demanding constitutional guarantee of 'autonomous Madhes province', Terai-based parties have already obstructed the Constituent Assembly (CA) meeting for the fifth time in a row. They are all set to not let its proceeding go on smoothly today too as the taskforce of the three aforementioned parties who are also largest parties in CA failed to prepare the draft of a supplementary constitution amendment bill yesterday following difference over the defination of a "Madhes autonomous aprovince" and "group entry" of certain communities into Neal Army.
Madhesi leaders have also threatened a nationwide stir if the government turned down their demand for a single Madhes province.
Chairman of Madhesi Janadhikar Forum (MJF) Upendra Yadav said on Monday that big political parties are trying to repress Madhesi demands by bringing in the Tharu community.
Yadav, who was speaking at a programme in Birgunj, claimed that "all Tharus are also Madhesi as they reside in terai region like other Madhesi communities", and said that Madhesi struggle will continue until the establishment of separate Madhesi state.
He also said that Madhesi movement is not targeted against any other community but is meant to establish the rights of both Madhesi and people of hilly origin in the terai region.
However, Tharu Welfare Assembly says that the "One Madhes" demand has been made to convert their land - Tharuhat - into Madhes. Similarly, Chure Bhawar Ekata Party (CBEP) which represents the people of hilly origin in Terai, has also raised objections against the demands for one Madhes province, saying that it would sow the seed of 'national disintegration'
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