Kathmandu, May 18
The Federal Alliance, which recently launched a largely Singhadurbar-centric movement, is finding it hard to sustain it.
The alliance, comprising the United Democratic Madheshi Front and Janajati parties, encircled Singhadurbar, the government secretariat, for two days and then went on to stage a sit-in outside Prime Minister’s official residence in Baluwatar. But the Singhadurbar-centric strife intended to bring the government to its knees has nearly ended in three days.
At a corner meeting taking place at Ratnapark on Wednesday afternoon, the protesting parties will announce a new phase of the movement. UDMF leaders said they will take the movement (back) to districts.
The front will return to Madhesh, while Janajati parties and other forces will carry the movement forward in their strongholds.
Asked what made them review and change their protest programmes, a UDMF leader said: We found it hard to sustain the movement. This is because neither UDMF nor Janajati parties have a huge presence in Kathmandu. UDMF had brought cadres from Madhesh for encircling Singhadurbar. Some supporters based in Kathmandu also joined in the protests.
Janajati leaders and supporters have also participated in the protests. But the number of participants is decreasing as the movement drags on. A leader said: We do not have our people in the Capital. In such a situation, for how long can we feed people brought from outside?
The alliance claims it mobilised roughly 5,000 leaders and cadres for encircling Singhadurbar and Baluwatar. The movement may have lost the steam this time, but alliance leaders remain upbeat.
They say: In the past, Madheshis alone used to take part in protests and certain sections used to accuse them of acting as per India’s designs. This time, Madheshis and Janajatis staged protests together, shouted slogans together. This is a big achievement.
