Separatists in Nepal Seek to Form Autonomous State Within the Country

For the past eight days southern Nepal has been in the grip of an indefinite shutdown.  Organized by communities of Indian-origin that are popularly called Madhesis, the purpose is to pressure the Nepalese government to concede to the Madhesis six-point charter demands.

The group's major demand is the carving out of an autonomous Madhesi state within Nepal with the ultimate right to self determination. The Nepalese government has refused to concede this demand contending that if could affect the very integrity and sovereignty of the country.

The government has agreed to grant adequate representation to the Madhesi in the army, parliament and all spheres of power. But this is not enough to satiate the Madhesis and they have resorted to the indefinite shutdown causing massive upheaval in the mountainous country, and threatening the very prospect of the upcoming April 10th constituent assembly poll.  PC Dubey in Kathmandu files this report: