UML can organize its programmes in Terai: Yadav

Terai-based parties exploiting Madhesi people: Acharya

Kathmandu, Mar. 8: A senior leader of Madhesi Morcha Mahendra Ray Yadav Wednesday said that the alliance of the Terai-based parties had no intention or policies to prevent the CPN-UML from organising any programme in Terai districts.

“Now UML can conduct its programmes and run campaign in any places in Terai. Morcha had not obstructed it in the past and will not do so in the days to come,” he said while speaking at an interaction here.

He defended that the alliance never said to bar the main opposition from entering Terai-Madhes.

He said, “Commence the Mechi-Mahakali campaign right from Saptari, we won’t disturb. We don’t have policy to agitate against it. If our cadres had created any sort of disturbances to its programme, give us their names, we will take action against them or ask the government to punish them accordingly, said Yadav.

According to him, Morcha was not behind vandalism at UML party offices and house of the party leaders, there might have been infiltration into the UML programmes intended to defame it.  

He reiterated that Morcha would not obstruct UML’s campaign which is slated for Friday from Hetauda of Makwanpur district.

“It’s their right to run party campaign,” he said.

Yadav blamed the government for the shooting and killing at Rajbiraj and said, “The government is responsible for the incident. It gave orders to shoot. We ask the government to bring the culprit to book.”

He said that the constitution amendment bill should be passed before holding elections and federal elections should be conducted in the first stage.

Meanwhile, UML secretary Bhim Acharya said that in democracy, no one should be obstructed from expressing their opinion and to organizing party activities.

He blamed the Terai-based parties for exploiting Madhesi people.

 “Mechi-Mahakali Campaign will start from Friday and we will move west from Chitwan. We have put programmes in Province No 2, we will go there later,” he said.

Acharya said that the UML had to go to Terai-Madhes as the Terai-based parties had spread rumours against the main opposition.

“The constitution must be implemented and there should be elections for that. Therefore, our campaign is for the same,” he remarked.

“Morcha was afraid of UML’s campaign which was resulted in such accident. There were more than 10,000 people in the mass-meeting. We could have retaliated against them but we were serious about not to make any loss of life and property.”

According to him, the government and Morcha jointly tried to obstruct UML’s meeting in Rajbiraj.

“The meeting was disturbed by the Morcha and the government gave orders to open fire. Therefore, blaming UML for the incident is sponsored statements,” he said.

He reiterated that the UM was not in favour of constitution amendment.