Sadbhavana Party, one of the four members of the Front, unveiled its own protest programs at a press meet in Kathmandu on Saturday. The party will begin its protests by offering prayers in public places on 3 January. And it will end the first round of protests on 11 January – the 150th day of the Madhes movement. The party’s General Secretary Manish Suman claimed that new protests were planned in coordination with other members of the Front. But a press statement issued to announce fresh protests is signed by Sadbhavana Party Chair Rajendra Mahato alone. Mahato had signed the statement before flying to New Delhi on Friday for further treatment. He was injured in a clash with police in Biratnagar last week. He had sustained ‘minor injuries’ to his head and legs, but he insisted on being admitted into the ICU. Mahato claimed he was beaten up by police when he tried to block the Nepal-India check-point in Biratnagar. Upendar Yadav, another top leader of the Front, has accused Mahato of trying to gain Madhesi people’s sympathy by staying longer in the hospital.
