Home Minister Ram Bahadur Thapa has dispelled fears about the government agreeing for a referendum on Madhes in the agreement with secessionist CK Raut.
Responding to the questions raised by lawmakers of the ruling CPN and opposition parties alike in the House of Representatives (HoR) meeting on Sunday, Minister Thapa, who signed the agreement on behalf of the government on Friday, stated that the government signed a political agreement with Raut and claimed the latter to have renounced the aim for free Madhes.
"Questions have been raised from two angles. Some are saying that the government has surrendered and provided legal recognition to secessionist while others are claiming that Alliance for Independent Madhes has surrendered," Thapa pointed. "Both of these interpretations are wrong."
He argued that use of some common sense would make it clear that the term 'people's mandate' used in the agreement does not mean referendum. "The constitution does not allow referendum against territorial integrity. It is clear that 'people's mandate' does not mean referendum if we use common sense," he explained. "I am not speaking lies. If CK Raut believes that the government has agreed for referendum, that will be against the agreement. We will again be back to square one."
He warned that Raut and his followers would be finished if they violate the agreement. "They will be finished if they do not honor this agreement and opt for betrayal. Nepal's territorial integrity will be stronger still," he claimed.
Lawmakers of the ruling CPN and opposition parties earlier asked different questions about the agreement. They pointed that Raut during the program for signing the agreement claimed that the government has agreed to his demands and is ready to hold a referendum.
Minister Thapa, however, claimed that far from the government accepting Raut's demands, Raut has renounced his demands and pointed to the first point in the 11-point agreement that mentions that Nepal is a sovereign, independent and territorially indivisible state.
Responding to the grievances about use of Alliance for Independent Madhes in the agreement, he pointed that the term has been used as it is the name of Raut's group, and expressed confidence that the group will change its name after the agreement.
