"We Fought for Rights, Now We Fight for Progress," says Upendra Yadav

Rajbiraj. Upendra Yadav, Chairman of the Janata Samajwadi Party Nepal, has stated that alongside the struggle for the rights, identity, self-respect, and equality of Madhesh, it is now necessary to fight for its development.

Addressing an election campaign organized at Shanti Chowk in Bishnupur Rural Municipality Ward No. 4 of Saptari on Wednesday, he said, "We fought for rights, identity, self-respect, and equality; now it is essential for Madhesh to fight for development."

Discussing how the central government takes a massive amount of revenue from Madhesh but allocates a very small development budget to the region, Chairman Yadav noted that the Saptari-3 constituency lagged behind in development because capable representatives were not elected in the past to raise their voices.

Yadav, who is also a candidate for the House of Representatives, highlighted the significant work he initiated in the fields of education, health, and transport after winning the election from Saptari-2. 

He stated, "I moved forward projects such as the establishment and operation of the Ram Raja Prasad Singh Health Science Institute and the Agriculture University, the transformation of physical infrastructure at Gajendra Narayan Singh Hospital, the construction of an engineering building at Mahendra Bindeshwari Multiple Campus, nursing buildings in hospital premises, educational buildings in schools, and the construction of the Rupani–Rajbiraj, Rajbiraj–Chhinnamasta–Nyaur, and Rajbiraj–Hanumannagar–Bhardah roads, along with providing ambulances to local levels. Unfortunately, in my absence, instead of taking those works forward, obstacles were created."

Recalling the struggle led by the Madhesi Janaadhikar Forum Nepal against the extreme discrimination and suppression of Madhesh and the Madhesi people in the past, he mentioned that following the agreement with the Forum, citizenship teams were mobilized in villages to distribute citizenship certificates. 

Discussing how Madhesis, or those with dark complexions, used to be insulted with words like 'Marsia' and 'Dhoti,' and noting that the Madhesh Province has now been established, JSP Chairman Yadav said, "Now, no one can discriminate against or mistreat Madhesis; they can proudly call themselves residents of Madhesh Province."

He credited the Madhesh movement for ensuring the participation of Madhesis, women, Dalits, Muslims, indigenous groups, Janajatis, and backward classes, among other marginalized communities. 

Emphasizing that many rights are yet to be secured and that the Madhesi people must move forward unitedly for Madhesh, he said, "Since attempts are being made to spread confusion in Madhesh to snatch away the rights obtained by the Madhesi people, I urge you to elect JSP Nepal candidates with a heavy majority."

JSP Nepal leader and former minister Renu Kumari Yadav mentioned that because she stood firm in bringing and passing a bill during her tenure as Education Minister, students from government schools, as well as Dalit and Muslim communities, have gained the opportunity to study medicine on scholarships. 

Party Secretary Shailendra Prasad Sah urged the boycott of anti-federalist forces, stating that those opposed to federalism are active in trying to seize the achievements gained through the rigorous struggle of the Madhesi people.

The program, chaired by the Chairman of the Publicity Committee Rajendra Sada, also featured speeches by Shrichan Sah and the district chairman of the Dalit Mukti Sangathan, Ashok Ram.