Although the tensions in the eastern Terai have started to calm down, life has not returned to normalcy yet as the local administrations Monday issued fresh curfew orders in four towns.
The District Administration Offices issued curfew orders in Janakpur, Birgunj, Kalaiya and Gaur today to control the increasing unrest in the southeastern region.
Meanwhile, citing the government reluctance to resolve the Madhesi issues, Minister for Commerce, Industry and Supplies Hridayesh Tripathi today resigned from his post from the ruling coalition government.
He said that the ruling seven-party alliance was "not serious enough over the present turmoil in the Terai region."
Minister Tripathi tendered his resignation to Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala through the chief secretary today.
"The eight parties have failed to show the level of seriousness that merits the present situation. Madhesh is moving ahead with its genuine demands regarding the proportional electoral procedure and federal setup, among others." He said adding, "We had issued a note of dissent on the very day the interim constitution was promulgated on January 15, however, there has been no hearing over them."
Central Committee members of the Nepal Sadhbhawana Party (Anandidevi) had recently urged the party to leave the coalition government accusing the government to have suppressing the Madhesi movement in the Terai region.
Meanwhile, shops and transportation services remained closed for the 11th day running as protests resumed in some parts of the eastern Terai since Monday morning.
In Lahaan where the Madhesi People's Right Forum (MPRF) first carried out the protests, life seemed to returning to normalcy but markets and shops remained closed.
Although Lahan has been comparatively calmer in the past two days, transportation services have not begun operations and marketplaces remained closed.
Krishna Bahadur Yadav, central member of the MPRF, said that the indefinite banda programme would continue until their demands like proportional electoral system, federal state and declaration of constituencies based upon the population, among others, are addressed by the government.
In Birgunj, local administration imposed a nine-hour curfew (10am to 7pm) today again.
Likewise, DAO Rautahat also imposed a curfew in Gaur from 9 am to 7 pm.
Janakpur remained peaceful today. However, a 10-hour curfew has been imposed by the local administration from 8am to 6pm.
Meanwhile, just before the curfew order came into effect, a group of Nepali-speaking people traversed the city area and expressed their solidarity with the Madhesi movement and appealed all to maintain peace and harmony in the region.
Similarly, in Kalaiya of Bara a curfew has been imposed from 8am to 9pm today.
Modraj Dotel, chief district officer of Morang blamed those who called the protests to have failed to maintain the peace during the demonstrations despite their continuous pledge to organize peaceful demonstrations.
Likewise, life was badly affected in Jaleshwor, Mahottari, as the residents were deprived of essential daily goods as the shops remained closed.
Due to the closure of transportation, newspapers have not been delivered for the past 10 days. In addition, even the local newspapers have not been published.
According to our correspondent, due to the lack of newspapers people have been deprived of factual information.
In Mirchai, Siraha, agitators forced around 300 Maoist cadres out of Shobha Shahi's house. The Maoists had captured Shahi's house six months ago.
Protesters vandalized the Village Development Committee Office, Post Office and the Drug Administration Office in Mirchaiya.
Meanwhile, the Nepali Congress leaders who are here in Janakpur to hold talks with the Madhesi leaders today expressed their solidarity with the ongoing movement.
They stressed that that the protests should be peaceful and urged all concerned to maintain peace and harmony in the region.
The team of NC leaders comprises of Ram Baran Yadav, joint general secretary of the party, Smriti Narayan Chaudhary and chief whip Anand Prasad Dhungana.
Speaking at a press conference today, the leaders said that Madhesi people's rights have not been addressed adequately and this movement should only end with a plausible solution.
They added that the Madhesi people's demands are justifiable and should be addressed.
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