Protesters have set the Nepali Congress (NC)'s party office on fire in Janakpur of Dhanusa district on Monday.
Cadre of Samyukta Loktantrik Madhesi Morcha, a coalition of four Madhesi parties, burned down the NC office. A fire engine was immediately called in, but the fire had already caused damage before it was extinguished.
Police fired in the air and used tear gas to disperse Madhesi protesters. The Madhesi front has imposed an indefinite shutdown in the Tarai for more than three weeks, rejecting the federalism model approved by the top three parties.
Although the NC, the UML and the UCPN (Maoist) have agreed to create a Madhes province stretching between Parsa and Saptari district, the Madhesi front wants the southern parts of Sunsari, Morang and Jhapa as well.
Madhesi parties have also demanded their proportional representations in all state structures and organs – a provision enshrined in the Interim Constitution 2007.
After the MJF (D) Bijaya Kumar Gachhadar dissociated himself from the four-party alliance, no political force representing Nepal's plains is now involved in the constitution drafting process.
However, the three parties have decided to move forward and push through a constitution by using their combined numerical strength. Although they are apparently not much concerned about holding talks with other Madhesi parties, they are trying to persuade Gachhadar to join the process.