Locals in Hill districts of Lumbini and Rapti zones have warned to step up their protests against the government proposed move to amend the constitution by realigning the state bounderies.

Contrary to the government claims that the proposal will address concerns of both the Madhesi and Tharu communities, the agitating groups warn the move to readjust the bounderies will only exacerbate the problem. The proposal also does not address demands of the Magar community who have been demanding a separate state.

“The main demand of the Tharuhat movement is to include at least four election constituencies of Kailali district in Province 5,” said Tharuhat leader of Banke Chandra Bahadur Chaudhary, asking, “How can such proposal address the Tharuhat movement as it does not include Kailali which has the Tharu majority?”

Rather than resolving the political dispute, the removal of Hill district will create more problems, Chaudhary warned. He demanded the government initiate a broader discussion to resolve the existing disputes rather than changing the boundaries time and again.

As per the National Census 2011, present Province 5 has about 17 percent of the country’s total population with Magar and Tharu being the two largest communities accounting for 15.35 and 15.15 percent of the population there. The population of the Magar community will dwindle significantly if Pyuthan and Ropla of Rapti, and Palpa, Gulmi and Arghakhanchi of Lumbini are removed from Province 5.

“We are protesting against the plan to demarcate the state. The amendment proposal will further scatter the Magar community. The Hill districts cannot be divided in the name of addressing the issue of the Madhes movement,” said Nabin Roka Magar, the chairman of  the Nepal Magar Sangh. He warned of a stronger protest in case the Hill districts were removed from Province 5 and merged into Proince 6.

Leaders of the ruling CPN (Maoist Centre) in the district have taken to the streets in protest of the proposal to split the Hill districts.

“Our party committee in Rolpa and Rukum districts is against the proposal. We will even stand up against the central leadership’s decision over the matter,” said Surendra Gharti Magar, the chairman of Maoist district committee in Rolpa.

The local people in the Hill districts of Rapti and Lumbini have been demonstrating for the past few days in protest against the statute amendment proposal of splitting these districts from Province 5.

Protest against plan to merge Palpa in Province 4

PALPA: Major political parties, civil society and business community in Palpa have demanded the government not to split Province 5. 

Forming a joint struggle committee, they have been protesting the government’s amendment proposal to remove the district from the province and merge into Province 4. 

District leaders of the Nepali Congress, CPN-UML, CPN (Maoist Centre), among others, have warned of a stronger protest if the government went ahead with the proposal.