Madhesi protests: Nepal’s ruling party agrees to amend statute

The Communist Party of Nepal-Unified Marxist Leninist, the leading party in Nepal’s ruling coalition, agreed to amend the country’s new constitution to address demands made by Madhesi groups on Friday.

Updated on: Dec 4, 2015, 23:39:41 IST

Hindustan Times | By Utpal Parashar, Kathmandu

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The Communist Party of Nepal-Unified Marxist Leninist, the leading party in Nepal’s ruling coalition, agreed to amend the country’s new constitution to address demands made by Madhesi groups on Friday.

A protester burns a tyre on the highway connecting Nepal to India during a general strike called by the Madhesi protesters demonstrating against the new constitution in Birgunj. (Reuters Photo)

The decision taken at CPN-UML’s standing committee meeting is expected to help resolve the ongoing protests in the Madhes region bordering India, which have claimed nearly 50 lives to date and injured hundreds.

“To address the demands seeking fresh delineation of federal states, the party has decided to constitute a committee comprising all political parties,” said a statement released after the meeting. Political parties based in Madhes have been opposing the constitution and have sought an amendment of the constitution and fresh demarcation of state boundaries so that there is adequate representation of people from the region in all government organs.

Madhes has also witnessed a three-month long mass agitation, which has turned violent on several occasions, with protesters blocking key border points with India, resulting in the scarcity of essential goods and petroleum products. Nepal has accused India of supporting the Madhesis and blocking the border — a charge New Delhi has repeatedly denied.

The government led by CPN-UML chairman KP Oli had earlier expressed unwillingness to move ahead with the amendment proposal tabled by the previous government, which was headed by the Nepali Congress.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Utpal Parashar
A seasoned senior journalist, I have nearly three decades of experience across print, digital, and online platforms, covering political transitions, insurgencies, environmental issues, and development stories in India and Nepal. I am skilled in breaking news, leading editorial teams and launch of newspaper editions. I am adept at leveraging digital trends and social media to expand global reach, with a strong ethical foundation and a reputation for impactful journalism. An alumnus of Asian College of Journalism, I joined Hindustan Times in New Delhi as a trainee reporter in May 1997. Over the years, I have been posted in Dehradun, Kathmandu (Nepal) and Guwahati. Currently, as Senior Assistant Editor at Hindustan Times, I lead a team reporting on India’s northeastern states. My work involves in-depth analysis, and engaging multimedia storytelling across formats, including text, photo, video, and interactive content. I am skilled in producing timely, shareable content, leveraging digital platforms and social media to engage global audiences. Throughout my career with the Hindustan Times, I have led diverse editorial teams, designed capacity-building activities, and supported reporters in developing strong story ideas, ethical reporting practices, digital skills, and fact-checking techniques. As Senior Assistant Editor for Northeast India, I have been responsible for guiding correspondents through complex political, humanitarian, and community-level stories using multimedia formats. Earlier, as Foreign Correspondent in Nepal, I produced extensive reporting during Nepal’s democratic transition and the 2015 earthquake and its aftermath.Read More

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