05-01-2007, 09:48 PM
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->Madhesis oppose Prachanda's presidential plan
Akhilesh Suman | New Delhi
The Madhesi uprising in Nepal may not be limited to seeking an equitable share of political power but it also clamours to influence the nature of future Government to ward off any possibility of complete takeover by the CPN (Maoist).
The Delhi visit of the Madhesi leader and the Chairman of the Madhesi People's Rights Forum (MPRF) Upendra Yadav is aimed at seeking support from the Indian leadership for the twin objectives of achieving Statehood for the Madhesis and a parliamentary form of democracy to pre-empt the Maoists' bid to capture absolute power after the formation of the Constituent Assembly.
Opposing Maoist leader Prachanda's advocacy for Presidential form of Government, Yadav said that Nepal should adopt a parliamentary system of Government to thwart any chance of monopoly in future. Incidentally, Prachanda is not opposed to becoming the President.
"There should be Parliamentary system of governance in Nepal like the one that exists in India and the Constitution should be supreme," Yadav told mediapersons on Monday.
He was addressing the media along with NCP general secretary DP Tripathy, Nepali Congress (Democratic) leader Pradeep Giri and central committee member of MPRF Jitendra Sonal.
The NCP had supported the anti-monarchy movement in Nepal and also in taking the Maoist on the dialogue table with the Seven Party Alliance (SPA).
Backing the MPRF line of argument, Tripathy said, "Yadav is for complete democracy and democracy with socialism."
Yadav is against violence, Tripathy said, and added that it was a tactical mistake by Maoists in Nepal to fight against the Madhesis.
Yadav also tried to clarify his position vis-a-vis RSS and VHP in India.
"I am neither a member of the RSS nor its follower," Yadav asserted. Later, Giri said that Yadav is an old member of CPN(M) and he believed in secular principles.
It was evident that Giri and Tripathy were trying to broker peace between Maoists and Madhesis and also dispel doubts that the Madhesi movement is aided by some right-wing Indian groups.
Yadav will meet other Indian leaders like <b>Sitaram Yechuri, AB Bardhan, Sharad Yadav, including some Congress leaders</b> during his Delhi stay.
The stand of the Madhesi leadership assumes significance as it comes at a time when Nepal is all set to frame a new Constitution this year. It underlines growing restlessness in the Madhesis for proportionate representation in the Constituent Assembly.
Madhesis and Maoists are engaged in bitter tussle after the monarchy was dethroned. Madhesis form almost half of Nepal's total population and, according to Yadav, their representation in the existing Assembly is not more than 17-18 per cent.
"We demand fresh delimitation of the constituencies," he said, adding that the constituencies in Nepal are discriminatory against the Madhesis.
"Some constituencies are formed on five thousand population while some of them (mostly Madhesi-dominated) cover a lakh of people," Yadav said. He underlined that because of this manipulation, the Madhesis have less representation in the Assembly.
Alleging that the Girija Prasad Koirala was hand in glove with the Maoists in subjugation of the Madhesis, Yadav demanded a high level judicial inquiry with the UNO representatives on the panel. :Maoists are attacking us, we are just defending ourselves," Yadav said.
He pointed out that the Maoists had not deposited all their arms in the containers. "The Maoists tell that they have strength of 37,000 cadre, but they had deposited only 3,500 arms," he said.
Dispelling doubts about his association with King Gyanendra, he said, "Gyanendra should be removed immediately from the palace and he should be tried under law in connection with the murder of King Virendra.
"Gyanendra had made false statement about the incident and he should be tried in the criminal charge," he added.
Claiming that Madhesis were not fighting against any group or party, he sought federal structure for Nepal and Statehood for Madhesi dominated region.
He justified his demand citing the historical fact that 238 years ago former Nepal King Prithvi Raj Shah forcibly captured Madhesh areas and still 40 lakh of Madhesis have not been given citizenship of the country.
"We were treated like slaves and still discriminated against," he said, seeking equal rights for all in Nepal.Â
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Akhilesh Suman | New Delhi
The Madhesi uprising in Nepal may not be limited to seeking an equitable share of political power but it also clamours to influence the nature of future Government to ward off any possibility of complete takeover by the CPN (Maoist).
The Delhi visit of the Madhesi leader and the Chairman of the Madhesi People's Rights Forum (MPRF) Upendra Yadav is aimed at seeking support from the Indian leadership for the twin objectives of achieving Statehood for the Madhesis and a parliamentary form of democracy to pre-empt the Maoists' bid to capture absolute power after the formation of the Constituent Assembly.
Opposing Maoist leader Prachanda's advocacy for Presidential form of Government, Yadav said that Nepal should adopt a parliamentary system of Government to thwart any chance of monopoly in future. Incidentally, Prachanda is not opposed to becoming the President.
"There should be Parliamentary system of governance in Nepal like the one that exists in India and the Constitution should be supreme," Yadav told mediapersons on Monday.
He was addressing the media along with NCP general secretary DP Tripathy, Nepali Congress (Democratic) leader Pradeep Giri and central committee member of MPRF Jitendra Sonal.
The NCP had supported the anti-monarchy movement in Nepal and also in taking the Maoist on the dialogue table with the Seven Party Alliance (SPA).
Backing the MPRF line of argument, Tripathy said, "Yadav is for complete democracy and democracy with socialism."
Yadav is against violence, Tripathy said, and added that it was a tactical mistake by Maoists in Nepal to fight against the Madhesis.
Yadav also tried to clarify his position vis-a-vis RSS and VHP in India.
"I am neither a member of the RSS nor its follower," Yadav asserted. Later, Giri said that Yadav is an old member of CPN(M) and he believed in secular principles.
It was evident that Giri and Tripathy were trying to broker peace between Maoists and Madhesis and also dispel doubts that the Madhesi movement is aided by some right-wing Indian groups.
Yadav will meet other Indian leaders like <b>Sitaram Yechuri, AB Bardhan, Sharad Yadav, including some Congress leaders</b> during his Delhi stay.
The stand of the Madhesi leadership assumes significance as it comes at a time when Nepal is all set to frame a new Constitution this year. It underlines growing restlessness in the Madhesis for proportionate representation in the Constituent Assembly.
Madhesis and Maoists are engaged in bitter tussle after the monarchy was dethroned. Madhesis form almost half of Nepal's total population and, according to Yadav, their representation in the existing Assembly is not more than 17-18 per cent.
"We demand fresh delimitation of the constituencies," he said, adding that the constituencies in Nepal are discriminatory against the Madhesis.
"Some constituencies are formed on five thousand population while some of them (mostly Madhesi-dominated) cover a lakh of people," Yadav said. He underlined that because of this manipulation, the Madhesis have less representation in the Assembly.
Alleging that the Girija Prasad Koirala was hand in glove with the Maoists in subjugation of the Madhesis, Yadav demanded a high level judicial inquiry with the UNO representatives on the panel. :Maoists are attacking us, we are just defending ourselves," Yadav said.
He pointed out that the Maoists had not deposited all their arms in the containers. "The Maoists tell that they have strength of 37,000 cadre, but they had deposited only 3,500 arms," he said.
Dispelling doubts about his association with King Gyanendra, he said, "Gyanendra should be removed immediately from the palace and he should be tried under law in connection with the murder of King Virendra.
"Gyanendra had made false statement about the incident and he should be tried in the criminal charge," he added.
Claiming that Madhesis were not fighting against any group or party, he sought federal structure for Nepal and Statehood for Madhesi dominated region.
He justified his demand citing the historical fact that 238 years ago former Nepal King Prithvi Raj Shah forcibly captured Madhesh areas and still 40 lakh of Madhesis have not been given citizenship of the country.
"We were treated like slaves and still discriminated against," he said, seeking equal rights for all in Nepal.Â
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