“Ours Is Purely Madhesi Andolan”
Dr. Upendra Yadav
Dr. UPENDRA YADAV, president of Madhesi Janadhikar Forum (MJF), recently organized a press meet in response to the government’s call for dialogue. Excerpts of what he said at the press meet:
On Madhesi Andolan
 This is purely a Madhesia’s andolan. People are spontaneously coming to the street to press their demands through peaceful means. We don’t want to see any violence in our agitation. The government is instigating violence through the use of excessive force. Police are brutally beating our workers in Madhesh and they have already killed more than 19 people - more than the number killed in Janandolan II. Maoists are also responsible for it. It was Maoist workers who instigated the violence by killing our party worker in Lahan. The Home minister Krishna Prasad Sitaula is another responsible person who detained us in prison under draconian law. Our peaceful movement will continue till legitimate demands of Madhesi people are met. MFJ activists have not engaged in looting, or vandalizing of government offices. MJF would identify the infiltrators, if any, and punish them.
On His Demands
We want proportional representation system to ensure proper representation of Madhesi population. The electoral constituencies have to be reconstituted based on population and there should be federal restructuring. Madhesis must get fair share in all organs of the state along with Janajatis and Dalits.
On Precondition
Home Minister Krishna Prasad Sitaula must resign to create environment for talks. His resignation is linked with the sentiments of Madhesi people. We are ready to start negotiations with the government but we want to see resignation of Sitaula first who is responsible for all these crimes. It is a precondition to initiate the dialogue. Madhesias are demanding just equal share in Nepal .
On Accusations of Infiltration
There is no foreign or palace hand behind our agitation. Our people are sacrificing their lives - not a single citizen from across the border has been killed. The Maoists always want to exaggerate things. That is typical Maoist propaganda. Some forces who ruled Nepal for 237 years are now trying to label our agitation as foreign-sponsored agitation. The aim of such accusation is jut to tarnish our image.
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