During the April 2006 people's movement, there were cordial relations between Madhesi leaders. But when power politics started, hostilities grew. Leaders spilt up parties for money. There were financial irregularities within parties and betrayals by fellow revolutionaries which forced me to retreat from active politics.

All these parties which carry the flag of Madhes have only two goals today : money and power. It is surprising that the remark about Madhes separatism has come from a defense minister, Sharat Singh Bhandari. Everyone knows when and why Bhandari became a Madhesbadi. How can the Madhes be separated from the country simply because Bhadnari declares it? The majority of people in the Madhes would never concede to this. The Madhes revolution was a cry for equality and identity. Separation was never a demand of the Madhesi people.

Madhes politics lacks principles. There is no crucial difference between the agendas of the so called Madhesi parties. We don't need nine different parties that claim to represent Madhes.

When there was a movement going on in the streets for democracy, these Madhesi leaders were either circling Delhi or supporting the king. Today, they have become the staunchest republicans. What per cent of people from Madhes do they really represent is clear from the number of votes they recieved. The truth is that the most radical section of Madhesi politicians today are the sons-in-laws imported from across the border who have no mass base. Madhesi politics has been hijacked by these people.

After looting from everywhere they could, they are now doing politics in the name of Madhes and Madhesi people. It is sad that the national parties are viewing the Madhes issue from the eyes of these opportunistic leaders. They should listen to the people instead. Until this trend persists, Madhesi people will not have anything to be glad about.