Madhesi protests reach Parliament

Madhesi parties in Nepal protesting against the constitution obstructed proceedings in Parliament on Sunday in a bid to force the government to address their demands.

The parties under the banner of United Democratic Madhesi Front (UDMF) have been carrying out protests for nearly three months now against demarcation of states in the statute.

On Sunday, lawmakers belonging to UDMF staged protest in the well of House shouting slogans against the Khadga Prasad Oli government. Unable to carry on proceedings, Speaker Onsari Gharti Magar adjourned the House till Monday afternoon.

“It doesn’t appear that the government is serious to hold talks and end the crisis. Every time there is some progress in talks, security forces step up atrocities against protesters,” said Ashok Rai of Federal Socialist Forum.

Rai said there was no point in continuing with proceedings of Parliament if the government wasn’t serious about dialogue with protesting parties to amend the federalism provisions in the constitution.

Protests by Madhesi parties, which include blocking to key border points with India, have severely affected supplies from the southern neighbour and created a fuel crisis in the Himalayan nation.

The parties from Madhes, which have been abstaining from Parliament, had decided on Saturday to take part in proceedings to put pressure on the government to address their demands. The forum maintained that blockade of border points would continue.

The Nepali Congress, the main opposition party, has also decided to seek early amendment of the constitution to ensure the ongoing crisis ends soon.