- The Madheshi front held a meeting in Kathmandu on Monday morning
- It decided to put on hold the plan to shut customs, close arteries and stop revenue payment
- The front has made public fresh programmes that include collecting signatures vis-a-vis its demands and staging lathi rallies
Kathmandu, February 8
United Democratic Madheshi Front has decided not to state sit-ins at customs along the Indian border. Nonetheless, it has decided to organise lathi rallies and other programmes designed to pile pressure on the state to address its demands.
UDMF leaders made these decisions at a meeting held on Monday morning after reopening of Birgunj customs. After the reopening, these leaders are busy mudslinging each other.
Chiefs of four UDMF partners attending the meeting at the residence of Mahantha Thakur, chair of the Tarai-Madhesh Democratic Party.
In the afternoon, UDMF issued a press release making its fresh programmes public. On February 17, the UDMF will organise lathi (stick) rallies in district headquarters in the plains and protest assemblies on February 19 to collect signatures for and against its 11-point charter of demands. The UDMF has kept on hold its programmes to shut highways, stage sit-ins at customs and to stop revenue payments.
On September 24, 2015 the UDMF had started its movement to press for the fulfilment of its demands, including redrawing of provincial boundaries, staging sit-ins at Birgunj and other customs points along the border with India.
Save Birgunj, other customs had remained operational during this period. On Friday, locals and traders reopened Birgunj, despite UDMF cadres’ attempt to keep the customs shut. After failing to shut the customs, UDMF has adopted a policy against shutting customs.
