Janamat Party demands full provincial autonomy, holds protest in Kathmandu (photos)
They also demanded that police administration and Chief District Officers (CDOs) be brought under provincial governments.
KATHMANDU: The Janamat Party staged a peaceful demonstration at Maitighar Mandala in Kathmandu on Monday, demanding full provincial autonomy and a series of constitutional, administrative, and socio-economic reforms.
During the protest, party cadres called for declaring provinces fully autonomous, placing the civil administration and local bodies under provincial jurisdiction, and restructuring the electoral system based on population.
They also demanded that police administration and Chief District Officers (CDOs) be brought under provincial governments.
The protesters further urged the government to fulfill its commitment of creating 1.2 million jobs, ensure proportional recruitment of Madhesi and Tharu communities in the Nepali Army, and allocate national budget in accordance with population distribution, particularly emphasizing the 54 percent population share of the Tarai-Madhes region.
Other demands included resolving issues related to foreign employment, providing farmers with fertilizers and concessional loans, and stopping environmental degradation and encroachment in the Chure region.
They also called for an end to discrimination, exploitation, and suppression of Madhesi, Tharu, Dalit, Muslim, Indigenous nationalities, backward communities, squatters, and other marginalized groups.
Janamat Party Vice President and Organization Department Chief Jaikant Raut said the protest was symbolic and peaceful, aimed at reminding the government of its own commitments, including those mentioned in party manifestos and past promises.
He criticized the government for failing to implement pledges related to federalism, inclusion, and equitable development.
He also expressed concern over the recent national budget, claiming that it does not reflect fair allocation based on population and needs of the Madhes region. He warned that continued neglect could further deepen discrimination against marginalized communities.
“If the government does not fulfill its commitments, we will be compelled to launch stronger agitation programs,” he cautioned.
Party Chair Dr. C.K. Raut also addressed the gathering, accusing successive governments of consistently ignoring Madhes-related demands despite relying on Madhesi votes to form governments.
He said that from the Rana regime to the present democratic era, Madhes has remained deprived of full rights and autonomy. According to him, neither the Nepali Congress nor communist-led governments in the past 75 years have addressed core issues such as citizenship, landless settlement, and federal autonomy.
Raut further claimed that even during the Maoist movement, the Madhesi community did not receive expected political gains. He argued that discrimination would continue unless Madhes’ political, social, and constitutional rights are fully guaranteed.
The party has announced that it will submit a memorandum to the Prime Minister through the District Administration Office, urging immediate attention to its demands.
Photos:
