A central leader of the Madhesi People's Rights Forum (MPRF) has rejected accusations that pro-monarchists have any hand in the current movement in Lahan.
"We are fully a republican force. We have nothing to do with monarchy," said Amaresh Narayan Jha, central leader of MPRF and president of Maithil Society.
Jha's rejection comes after the Maoist spokesperson Krishna Bahadur Mahara categorically accused the monarchists and reactionaries of instigating violence in Lahan.
"We concede that MPRF is not a big party and, therefore, we alone did not have the strength of leading such a big movement. But this has ceased to become only our movement. All the people of Madhes have risen up against oppression and even workers of eight parties have joined us in this movement," said Jha, talking to an FM program.
Jha said the MPRF's movement will not be withdrawn until and unless their demands are addressed by the government. The MPRF has demanded fresh delimitation of electoral constituencies based on population and provisions to ensure rights of Madhesi community in the interim constitution.
In the last few days, the incident in Lahan has continued to deteriorate. On Monday, two more persons were killed when police opened fire at rampaging demonstrators. Over four dozen persons were injured in the incident. Three police personnel and 11 people had been airlifted to Kathmandu for treatment by Nepali Army chopper on Monday evening. One of the police personnel is said to have been injured by a bullet fired by demonstrators.
