Putting aside their long longstanding internal differences, Tharu lawmakers, activists and civil society members from across the political line have joined hands to protest against the segregation of Tharu communities in the draft constitution. A meeting of Tharu leaders on Monday announced a four-day general strike in the Tarai region starting Wednesday, demanding unified Tharuhat province in the region. The move comes in the wake of growing dissatisfaction against integration of Tharu majority districts into hill and mountain districts. Several districts of western Tarai including Kanchanpur and Kailali remain tense throughout the day on Monday due to protests demanding Tharuhat/Tharuwan province. “Four parties have once again deceived us and robbed the Tharu community of identity and inclusion in the new constitution. Our struggle will continue unless we get equal rights,” said Nepali Congress lawmakers Rukmani Chaudhary.

Earlier, thirty-two Tharu lawmakers from ruling Nepali Congress, UCPN (Maoist) and other fringe parties had formed a struggle committee—Tharu Lawmakers’ Unified Struggle Committee (TLUSC). The lawmakers along with leaders of Tharu Kalyankari Sabha and Tharuhat Joint Struggle Committee on Monday held meetings with Madhes-based parties and Nepal Federation of Indigenous Nationalities before announcing additional programmes of protest. Both Nefin and Samyukta Loktantrik Madheshi Morcha (SLMM) has extended support to the ongoing protest of the Tharu community. Following the meeting with Tharu leaders, Morcha leader Upendra Yadav issued a statement expressing solidarity with the demands of Tharu communities. The Tharu communities have also reached an understanding to extend support to SLMM. The Madhesi based parties and Tharu communities have come together in spite of their longstanding differences and clash of their demands in the proposed federal set-up. When asked if they are planning to launch a unified protest with Madhes-based parties, Tharu leaders said no such agreement has been made. “There has been an understanding to extend support to each other’s protests. But there has not been any decision to hold joint protest,” said Rajkumar Lekhi, Thaur leader and former Chairman of Nefin. He said the state should be federated based on five principles of identities and four principles of capability.