The issue was not raised even in the region during the collection of public feedback on the preliminary draft of the constitution held across the country on Monday and Tuesday.

A sizeable number of Madhesis had participated in the programme held in Morang but their primary demands were amendment in the ‘and’ provision regarding citizenship from the draft constitution, constitutional guarantee of employment for all citizens and the finalisation of demarcation and naming of federal provinces before promulgating the new constitution. “There is no way that entire Tarai plains can be carved into a single Madhes province,” Professor Ghanashyam Lal Das said. “Madhesi parties only raised the issue as a protest slogan.” As the demand was not that of Madhesis, no one voiced their opinion on the matter during the feedback collection programmes, he said.

Another Professor PK Jha said one province in Madhes is not possible geographically. “As it was impossible, the issue died down in course of time,” he said. “The Madhesi community is well aware of the impossibility of such province.”

According to Pravin Chaudhary, general secretary of Biratnagar unit of Maithali Sewa Samiti, it is natural that the demand of some hardliners is no longer popular. “Madhesi leaders politicised the issue which could never materialise and this has not helped Madhes,” he said. He said awareness has risen in Madhes and therefore the demand for a single Madhes province was not raised.

“We want rights and not one Madhes province,” Ramananda Mandal of Biratnagar-10 said. “All state bodies should have proportional representation.” The primary demand of Madhes is citizenship and access to education, healthcare and employment, he said.

Yadav warns of Madhes revolt

KAPILVASTU: Sanghiya Samjbadi Forum Nepal Chairman Upendra Yadav warned of launching a movement in Madhes if the new constitution is promulgated ignoring the rights of Madhesis, Janajatis and Dalits.

Addressing party cadres at a programme in Taulihawa, the district headquarters of Kapilvastu, Yadav claimed the 16-point agreement among four major parties was against the federal ruling system.

Meanwhile, Sanghiya Loktantrik Madhesi Morcha took out a rally in Birgunj, Parsa, to protest the constitution draft. Addressing the rally, leaders of Madhes-based parties said the preliminary draft ignored the rights of Madhesi people. (PR)