40th Day – Situation Update

The Madhes Andolan marks 40th day today

Madhesi front cadres stage sit in protest at Indo-Nepal border, blocking Indian import

After curfew and prohibitory order enforced by local administration in Birgunj areas, leaders and cadres of the United Democratic Madhesi Front (UDMF) has started to stage sit-in protest imposing blockades in the Indo-Nepal border areas of Nepali side in Parsa, Morang, and Saptari districts on Thursday.

All the containers or vehicles loaded with imports from India have blocked from Indo-Nepal border of Birgunj, where Anil Jha, chair of Nepal Sadbhawana Party, has led the protests. Hundreds of agitating cadres and locals staged demonstration at ‘no-man’s land’ near the friendly bridge between Birgunj and Raxaul, India.

“We’ll continue our protests till the government fulfills the demands,” said Jha. He further said that three party leaders termed the Madhesi front’s protest as anarchy. As a result, the front leaders decided to pile pressure on the government through blockade of supplies from India.

Protestors have continued demonstrators even after police attempted to intervene to stop the demonstration, Jha added.

According to Pradeep Yadav, chief of Federal Socialist Party Nepal, Parsa district said that they have decided to block the imports from India after the participants were shot dead while staging protests centered in Birgunj, district headquarters of Parsa.

In Morang, the UDMF cadres and leaders, including Mahantha Thakur and Hridyesh Tripathi, have also staged sit-in protest before Biratnagar Customs Office, imposing the blockade in Indo-Nepal border areas of Biratnagar and Jogbani.

“Our agitation is not targeted against Pahadi and Madhesi but simply for ensuring Madhesi people’s rights,” said Tripathi.

In Saptari, UDMF cadres and leaders have also blocked the Indo-Nepal border check point at Tilathi as a form of their protests.

Indian Customs deny blockade by Indian Side

Pranesh Gupta, assistant commissioner of the customs office based in Jogbani, India, said that his office cannot allow the containers and vehicles loaded with imports to Nepal citing the safety of the drivers.

“It is not intentional but is the matter of security concerns,” he added.

No Blockade in Dhangadhi, Nepalgunj

Whereas, the Indo-Nepal border areas of Dhangadhi and Nepalgunj have remained unaffected from such blockage.