Blockade at Indo-Nepal border to continue, says agitating Madhesi Morcha

Kathmandu: Despite mounting pressure from the general public, the agitating Samyukta Loktantrik Madhesi Morcha (SLMM) decided in a meting here on Tuesday that blockade at Indo-Nepal border will continue.

Addressing a press meet at Tarai Madhes Loktantrik Party (TMLP) office in Bijuli Bazaar today, SLMM conceded the fact that they are under pressure from public to call off their strike but announced their decision to continue the strike, as per ANI.

“We will continue our sit-in at the key border entry points but will allow the operation of vehicular movement and markets,” The Kathmandu Post quoted a senior TMPL leader as saying.

Earlier the party had reportedly decided to relax their agitation with continuation of the sit-in at Nepal-India border entry points.

Likewise, TMLP General Secretary Sarbendranath Sukla ruled out the possibility of deferring the agitation programmes immediately. He said the alliance of Madhes-based parties has been holding serious discussion to change the mode of agitation.

The disgruntled Madhes-centric parties have been staging demonstration for the past two months expressing serious reservations over the demarcation of federal state borders.

The alliance has been staging sit-in at the key entry points along Nepal-India border for the past three weeks. The Indian authorities have been obstructing Nepal-bound vehicles citing Madhes agitation, thereby creating an acute shortage of daily essentials mainly fuel.

Meanwhile, India said it hopes new Nepal government led by Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli will address concerns and issues of all sections of society, ANI quoted sources as saying.