Madhesis to start 2nd phase of protests from tomorrow in Nepal

Madhesis and other minority ethnic groups in Nepal decided to start the next round of protests from tomorrow, as the first phase ended today with a sit-in in Kathmandu to press for their demands relating to more rights, adequate representation and re-demarcation of states boundary.
During the last day of their first phase's sit-in today at Shanti Vatika at Ratnapark in Kathmandu, hundreds of protesters picketed for two hours to oppose the new constitution that delineates Nepal into seven federal states.
The Federal Alliance of 29 parties today announced the second phase of protests after holding a joint meeting here.

During the meeting, the agitating groups concluded that their movement has become successful in bringing waning Madhesi movement back to the limelight.
"The five-day peace movement had drawn greater sympathy from the general public, civil society, media and international community than last year's six-month long blockade at Nepal-India border," alliance leaders said.
The second phase of protests include meetings and rallies in three districts within Kathmandu valley for 10 days and two days of protest rallies in Birgunj of southern Nepal and Pokhara of western Nepal towards the end.

Madhesis, mostly of Indian-origin, wants the government to rewrite the Constitution so that the concept of secularism, identity-based proportional inclusive representation and federal democratic republic status to Nepal could be constitutionally ensured.

The demonstrators yesterday clashed with police in front of Prime Minister K P Oli's official residence, leaving several of them injured.
Meanwhile, Minister for Information and Communications Sherdhan Rai said the Kathmandu-centric agitation launched by the Federal Alliance has no meaning and no essence.
Speaking at an interaction programme here, Rai said that the agitating groups would soon return to the negotiation table as their protest has no essence.
Stating that the government had sent a letter to the Alliance inviting it for the talks, he claimed that the government would not bow down to the agitation launched by the protesting parties.

The demand of one of the groups of the Alliance to rewrite the new Constitution was dangerous, he said, adding that such type of demands would not be addressed at any cost.
Over 50 people lost their lives during months-long agitation by the Madhesis which also saw blockade of Nepal's all trading points with India, resulting in huge shortage of essential commodities and souring Indo-Nepal ties.