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Cabinet endorses the govt-UDMF deal: victory rallies in most terai districts

The cabinet meeting held on Thursday evening has endorsed the eight-point deal signed with the agitating Madhesi parties.

The cabinet also decided to request the Election Commission (EC) to provide appropriate time for filing of nominations for the Madhesi parties.

Meanwhile, large number of people took to the streets in many terai districts, Thursday evening-- not to protest against the government like in the past 16 days - but to celebrate the signing of the 8-point deal between the government and the United Democratic Madhesi Front (UDMF).

In Biratnagar, one of the major towns in terai, people took out victory rallies in the mainstreets and thoroughfares to celebrate the signing of the deal that effectively ended the grueling 16 days of demonstrations, sporadic clashes and curfews that had made life in the town and across parts of eastern terai unbearable. The rally later converged into a mass assembly.

As UDMF also announced withdrawal of its agitation following the signing of the agreement, life in many parts of terai is also gradually limping back to normalcy. Shops and businesses in Biratnagar's main market places re-opened to do brisk business while vehicles, mostly two-wheelers, started to ply in the roads. But in some places people still feared to venture out from their homes and there were reports of some miscreants engaging in vandalism. However, the long route buses haven't been able to resume service.

Reports coming in from Sunsari say that the curfew imposed by the district administration in the Duhabi area from 10 am in the morning following the killing of a protestor in police firing yesterday has been lifted. With this people have started to come out of their homes to celebrate the ending of the agitation. Likewise, curfew has also been lifted in Nawalparasi following the signing of the deal.

Similarly, people in Siraha, Saptari, Dhanusha, Mahottari, Parsa including other terai districts are also breathing a sigh of relief after the 8-point deal between the government and UDMF effectively ended the latter's indefinite strike. People here are now gradually returning to their normal lives as shops and businesses in main market places in most of these districts have re-opened and vehicles have started to ply in the roads following the deal. UDMF supporters who had spent the past two weeks clashing with the police were also seen celebrating the signing of the deal in Jaleshwor. Similar scenes were witnessed in Janakpur, and Dhanusha where the cadres of the Front smeared vermillion over each others' face to celebrate the success of the movement which they believe would guarantee the legitimate rights of the Madhesis.

Life in these districts, including some parts of the eastern hilly districts, had been completely thrown out of gear due to the 15-day long strike with market places, factories, transportation, educational institutions and government offices remaining shut because of it. Due to this people faced shortages of daily essential items and restriction in their movement.

The withdrawal of the agitation has also come as a good news for students preparing for crucial School Leaving Certificate (SLC) examinations. They were among the worst affected as the daily curfew imposed in the terai districts had barred them from going to school or attend tuition classes to prepare for the most important examination in the country's educational calendar. nepalnews.com ag Feb 28 08