The major demand of the Madheshi protesters is that their territories bordering India must be exclusive Madhesh provinces, without inclusion of hilly Aryan and ethnic groups. Education is our right.
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Many students who were holding placards encircled Kathmandu’s Ring Road to demand the immediate lifting of the over two-month-old blockade. “Lots of our members are being threatened, especially in districts, that if we don’t switch off the channels, they can do anything”, Sudhir Parajuli, president, federation of Nepal Cable TV operators told ANI exclusively.
Schools have been forced to extend holidays and cut down on classes because of the fuel shortage.
For weeks the Madhesis have been blocking the main southern border crossing with India, preventing fuel and other essentials from entering the country. The Nepali Congress Party and “Communists” (they are unpredictable and have been broken into more than two dozen fringe groups now) during a democratic movement in 1990.
Dozens of people have been killed in the protests in Nepal since August.
The splinter faction of the Maoist had called the national wide general strike to protest the unofficial border blockade imposed by India to Nepal.
Shortages mean there is no fuel for private cars and the Nepalese authorities have rationed petrol for taxis and buses. During the meeting on Monday “both the sides agreed to resolve the issues relating to the Madhesi parties through bilateral and trilateral dialogue”, said Oli’s press advisor Pramod Dahal.
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A total of 17 people also lost their lives on Mount Everest by avalanches triggered by the natural disaster.
