Kathmandu, April 20
Naya Shakti Nepal coordinator Baburam Bhattarai is out in the sweltering heat of Madhesh to wow Madheshi people.
Clad in local attire, he is busy with his weeklong campaign to ’empower’ the Madhesh.
As part of his campaign, he addressed a gathering at Sangrampur of Sarlahi district up till 12.30 (midnight) on Monday.
In course of his speech, Bhattarai said: It was Madheshis, who built Nepal. So, Madheshis cannot imagine forming a separate nation other than Nepal.
People of the Gopala dynasty came to (present-day) Kathmandu grazing cows, whereas those of the Mahishpal dynasty came grazing buffaloes, he said. “These people were Madheshi people’s ancestors.”
Ram Rijhan Yadav, campaigner, Naya Shakti Nepal, said Baburam is drawing a huge crowd, including women, men and children. Though Madheshi people have doubts about Bhattarai, he is drawing them to him nonetheless, Yadav said.
Bhattarai plans to make it to all eight districts of Province 2 and three districts — Nawalparasi, Kapilvastu and Rupandehi — of Province 3.
He steps for a day in each district and stays in party workers’ homes.
Bhattarai takes in 6-7 interactions daily and attends 3-4 gatherings, says Yadav, adding: “He never gets tired of delivering speeches and answers questions without losing his temper.
At one interaction, Bhattarai faces 20-100 questions and does not leave the interaction without answering all questions. “Apparently, Madheshi political parties are not liking our Madhesh Yatra, but Madhesh’s peoples are supporting us enthusiastically,” Yadav says.
Every gathering that Bhattarai addresses has 1,000-2,000 participants, according to Yadav.
The participants ask different types of questions to Bhattarai and some of them concern his wife, Hisila Yami.
He faces questions like: You are campaigning for the creation of a corruption-free party. But there’s a web of corruption inside your own home.
Those asking such questions are apparently pointing finger at his wife.
Bhattarai responds to these questions and ask the people to present to him proof of his wife’s involvement in corruption.
Bhattarai responds thus: Hisila is from an affluent family. Her heart is blemishless but once in a while she makes remarks without thinking much. But there’s no flaw in his conduct. As far as corruption charges levelled against her are concerned, the court itself has given her clean chit. Present to me the proof of her involvement in corruption, if you can. Levelling baseless charges makes no sense. Party leaders like Ramchandra Jha, Ramkumar Sharma and Kalamuddin are accompanying Bhattarai, who is travelling along the Postal Highway. 
Bhattarai has already traversed Saptari, Siraha, Mahottari, Dhanusha and Sarlahi. Apart from delivering speeches and interacting with locals, Bhattarai also finds time to plant saplings and take part in yoga camps.
