Unveiling a joint protest programmes on Friday, Sanghiya Samajbadi Forum Nepal, Nepal Sadbhawana Party, Tarai Madhes Loktrantrik Party and Tarai Madhes Sadbhawana Party said the agreement is “unconstitutional” as it attempts to federate the country into eight provinces through an arrangement to decide names and boundaries of the states later.

The Madhesi leaders said they are in favour of delineation of federal boundaries and naming them in accordance with past agreements signed with Madhesi, Janajati, Dalit and other marginalised and excluded communities. Nepal Sadbhawana Party Chairman Rajendra Mahato said the three major parties and Madhesi Janadhikar Forum-Loktantrik are moving ahead disobeying the Supreme Court’s ruling and undermining the Interim Constitution. “There is no alternative to protests as four parties are unwilling to incorporate the voice of Madeshi, Janajati, Dalit, Muslim and other excluded and marginalised communities of this country,” he said.

The protest programmes include putting black flags in public areas and organising rallies in Kathmandu and other major cities across the country. The parties announced that they will place black flags at public places in Kathmandu on July 12 and organise a protest rally on July 14. Likewise, the front is scheduled to hold protests and corner meets in districts headquarters on July 17. Their protest programmes also include meets on July 21-25 at Biratnagar, Janakpur, Birgunj and Bhairahawa.

CPN M protests Lipu-Lekh deal

The Netra Bikram Chand-led CPN Maoist organised a mass demonstration in the Capital on Monday to protest the Sino-Indian agreement to open a trade route through Lipu-Lekh, a disputed land between Nepal and India.

Addressing hundreds of party cadres at Ratnapark, Chand said the agreement undermines Nepal’s territorial integrity. He also expressed anger at silence maintained by Nepali Congress and CPN-UML on the matter.

Prior to the gathering, the party cadres and leaders had also taken out a rally from Bhrikutimandap to Shantibatika.

Chand also demanded that the 16-point agreement signed among four parties be scrapped and said his party is in favour of settling the contentious issues of the constitution writing process on the basis of consensus reached through an all-party political conference.

Meanwhile, a 33-party alliance led by CPN-Maoist has submitted a memorandum, expressing serious concerns over the Lipu-Lekh agreement, to the Chinese Embassy in Kathmandu. Issuing a press statement, the Mohan Baidya-led party said the deal is against Nepal’s territorial integrity and national independence.