March 11, 2009: Kathmandu: With 6 % of the population speaking Tharu language, the Tharu community of Nepal who have been repressed socially and ethnically are up again striving for their identity acknowledging the recently government declaration on enlisting their community in the Madheshi category.
They have been fighting violently against the traditional myth of association of the Madheshi name being associated with them where 3 lives have already witness its fury.
The struggle has been witness as extravagant as the past revolution days of 2063 BS where the Tharu community has been showing their resentment around the country from the last 10 days.
Likewise, looking at their agitation till date dozens of vehicles have been torched in the fury along the East-West Highway and the Koshi Highway section with in the name of identity. Though 3 lives have already been lost but the question of identity is still striving as a passion to stand tall in the political games where a normal layman is suffering the consequences.
Recently, this morning (11 march), news are up about the a truck being vandalized at Dohabi-Biratnagar section of the Koshi Highway, three motorcycles and two vans at Itahari-Inaruwa section and a Vikram tempo at Inaruwa road section have been reported to be vandalized.
The tension had mounted so much that the government had declared some specific section as high tension area where Curfew was acted due to the turmoil in view of the security of the travelers and bus drivers who had been stranded in the Highways.
Most likely, everyday the agitators obstruct transportation and even manhandle the bus drivers and the travelers where due to lack of the government’s counter measures mechanism, people are bound to suffer the consequences.
With the happenings on one hand the properties worth millions are being wasted where as on other hand the main supply of vegetables, fruits and other necessary material are short coming due to the obstruction.
“They want to isolate the city and starve the city to fulfill their demands. Welcome to new Nepal where money power and force speaks than any other thing,” commented one of the businessmen.
It is reported that Vegetables and fruits worth Rs 2 million have been destroyed at Koshi barrage due to the continuous strike reported the prominent news media ekantipur.
By Shreedeep Rayamajhi