Tarai Madhes Loktantrk Party (TMLP) Chairman Mahantha Thakur has said obstruction at Nepal-India border crossings will continue until the government and major political parties come up with a clear position on federal border demarcation.

Claiming that the government and smugglers have sullied the Madhes movement, Thakur said the agitation would continue until the government implement the demands of Madhes in writing.

“The next meeting of the Morcha would decide further protest programmes, including border blockade,” he said, while addressing a press meet on Wednesday. He added that the SLMM would forge an alliance with other agitating Madhes-based political parties to make the agitation effective.

Thakur, a key leader of the agitating SLMM, however, said that the ongoing dialogue at joint task force level was positive. Asked about SLMM leaders’ meeting with leaders of India’s Bihar state, Thakur said, “It is all but natural to confide in your friends during difficult times.”

TMLP central Vice-chairman Brikhesh Chandra Lal, General Secretary Jitendra Sonal and leaders Brijesh Gupta, Kamleshwor Puri, Ramesh Karmi, Purusottam Jha, Jitendra Singh, Nawal Kishor Singh, Janardan Yadav, and Shyam Gupta were among others present at the conference.

We may change form of protests: Mahato

Sadbhawana Party Chairman Rajendra Mahato has said there will be “slight changes” in the form of ongoing Tarai protests.

“There could be some changes in the style of the protests, but a meeting of the Samyukta Loktantrik Madhesi Morcha will take a decision to this effect,” Mahato told mediapersons in Morang on Wednesday. “Our protest will continue until all the demands of Madhes are addressed,” said Mahato.

On Madhesi Morcha leaders’ visit to Bihar state of India, Mahato said: “We went to Bihar to seek support for our ongoing Tarai protests.” According to Mahato, the Morcha leaders “got moral support” from leaders of Bihar. Mahato returned to Nepal after spending four days in Bihar.

Deuba denounces vandalism

Senior Nepali Congress leader Sher Bahadur Deuba on Saturday denounced vandalism at houses of party leaders Bimalendra Nidhi, Ananda Prasad Dhungana and Lila Koirala by leaders and cadres of the Madhes-based parties.

 Issuing a press statement, Deuba urged the cadres of the Madhes-based parties not to engage in such “barbaric and anarchic activities”. The activities were aimed to demoralise NC leaders at a time when party was gearing up for its general convention, added the statement.