I feel Madhesh should span from Ganga to Himalayas: Minister Mandal

Online Khabar

Biratnagar, November 2. Minister without portfolio, Satya Narayan Mandal, said here on Monday that he personally feels a Madhesh province should cover not only the plains, but also the hills and the Himalayas.

Addressing a press conference with Press Chautari Nepal as the organiser, the minister and CPN-UML leader said: As a Madheshi, I personally feel a bit differently about provincial delineation. The ancient Mithila Pradesh (province) covered the territories between the Ganga River in the south and the Himalayas in the south. So, why should the Madheshis leave the hills and the Himalayas?”

Personally, I feel the Madhesh province should span north-south.

Minister Mandal is here on government expenses for celebrating Chaturmasa festival. He said Indians have been supporting the Madhesh Movement directly and indirectly.

Referring to India, Mandal talked about neocolonial exploitation: “We are not India’s servants. In the present context, India cannot send its army here. But the army without uniform is more dangerous than the one in uniform,” he said, in an oblique reference to infiltration of extraneous elements in the movement.

Citing certain rumours, he said: “I have heard that Indian consulates in Biratnagar and Birgunj are seeking return of their investment, pointing that their plan has come a cropper.”

Mandal, who hails from Saptari districtt, lamented that he has not been able to keep his children in the home district because of threats from United Democratic Madheshi Front cadres.

At the press meet, Minister Mandal said the government has taken the Madhesh Movement, continuing for about three months, seriously. He said talks between the government and the UDMF are heading in a positive direction. In the capacity of a minister and a lawmaker, I have found no major fault in the constitution, save the issue of province delineation. He said the government is ready to exercise maximum flexibility for addressing the protesters’ concerns.

“I have heard that Indian consulates in Biratnagar and Birgunj are seeking return of their investment, pointing that their plan has come a cropper.”

India cannot send its army in the present context. However, in the present context, the army without uniform can be more dangerous than the one in uniform.

“There’s no major fault in the constitution, except for province delineation.”