Stating that the interim constitution is full of flaws and failed to protect the rights of Madhesi people, the Madhesi People’s Right Forum (MPRF), announced Madhesh bandh (Shut Down) on Tuesday.

Talking to the journalists on Monday, Upendra Yadav, president of the forum said the interim constitution has excluded the issues of marginalised groups, and is silent on the issue of federal democratic republic.

“We are deprived of the right to self-governance, right to national language, equal representation and some basic rights that other Nepalis enjoy,” reports quoted him as saying.

Ram Kumar Sharma, general secretary of the forum said, “If our demands are not met, we won’t let the constituent assembly polls take place in Terai.”

Yadav said the government should conduct a census to update voters’ list and all Nepalis should be provided with the citizenship. He also stressed the need of the regional autonomy.

Meanwhile, cadres of the Forum torched copies of the interim constitution opposite the Siraha Campus gate on Monday evening the alleging that the interim constitution, passed by the reinstated House of Representatives and endorsed by the interim legislature, has failed to safeguard the rights of the Madhesis, reports said.

They also organised a torch rally chanting slogans in favour of a federal democratic republic, a proportionate election system for the constituent assembly and against the “internal colonialism” imposed against the Madhes.

Stating that all the agreements reached between the ruling seven party alliance and the Maoists will not pave the way for the establishment of a federal democratic republic, the forum said it is organising the general strike to protest the agreement reached between the ruling seven political parties, the CPN (Maoist) and the government on November 8 and the comprehensive peace treaty on November 21.