“The various ethnic communities of Tarai would not enjoy absolute rights if Madhes is divided into many parts in the name of provinces,” said the party Chairman Sharat Singh Bhandari.[break]
He added that their party would take an initiative to institutionalize both eight-point and 22-point deals reached between Madhesi parties and Nepal government follwoing the Madhes movement.
“Our party is committed to institutionalize the right to self-determination, self-rule, identity-based autonomous Madhes province with full autonomy,” reads the 32-page manifesto of the party. The party further said that the conservation of Chure region is the main agenda of the party.
"To stop the desertification of Tarai, we have proposed conservation of Chure Range in our manifesto as the main agenda," said Bhandari. "Postal highways and railways to link Tarai and Hill districts, green revolution, agro-forestry in Chure Range, among other, are agenda for the poll." He further claimed that his party was a single party that would take an initiative to draft a constitutional policy on Chure range.
As the country prepares for fresh elections to the Constituent Assembly to draft a new constitution, Bhandari said the party stands for prime minister as the executive head and a ceremonial president. “The prime minister should be elected by parliament. We have also proposed giving equal weight to the central and provincial parliaments while electing the president,” added Bhandari.
NMSP has also demanded that Hindi be recognized as the contact language of the Tarai. Less than 1 percent of the Tarai population speaks Hindi.
The party envisages formation of ´state level human rights commission´, ´women´s commission´, ´Dalit commission´, ´Police Commission´, Minority commission, Muslim commission, information commission, among others.
In a bid to woo the Muslim voters, the party has proposed lofty programs for the Muslim community. “Muslim community should get a separate reservation in all sate mechanisms, including in civil service, police, army, university service and health service,” said the manifesto. The party further demanded the formation of permanent high level central Hajj committee.
The party also envisages the formation of ´permanent high level central Madrasa educational committee´. “The academic qualifications of Madrasa education should be mainstreamed,” said Bhandari. As per its manifesto, the issues of Muslim community would be resolved through Islamic jurispendence and Muslim Personal Law. The party also demanded a special right for the women belonging to Muslim community.
Insisting that their party was serious over the development of local language and culture, Bhandari said that they have proposed loft programs for the development of local language. “The party has envisaged the formation of Maithili Academy, Bhojpuri Cine Academy, Spiritual Meditation Center, Cultural Archival Center, ….,” reads the manifesto.
Claiming that his was the only party with a master-plan for the development of Madhes, Bhandari said, “Mechi-Mahakali fast track should be built to link Tarai and Hill.” He further said that the party has proposed in the manifesto the development of many industrial corridors in Tarai.
“We will take the initiative for the formation of Mithila Culture Promotion Academy, which will be a governmental body to ensure the promotion and development of Mithila culture and language.” He added that his party firmly believes that all the languages spoken in Tarai and Hill are national languages.
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