'Ab woh zamana chala gaya': Upendra Yadav

Upendra Yadav, a former Maoist, is the new prophet of Nepal's Tarai. He led a protracted, often violent agitation for Madhesi rights, often targeting the Maoists. He is the undisputed leader of the Madhesi Janadhikar Forum (MJF), which has a 52-strong contingent in the CA. Most of his elected MPs, including women, come from the most marginalised sections. He is a key player in Nepal. He spoke to Amit Sengupta in Kathmandu on May 15.

How do you understand the mandate?
People have voted for political change. They have voted us and the Maobadis. Old, mainstream parties have been marginalised. The State has to be restructured. We have to introduce a federal structure. Hitherto, the Nepali Congress represented the Madhesis in Kathmandu, but didn't do one bit for them. No development. When we asked for our rights, they chose oppression. (Daman ka sahara liya) This was like internal colonisation in the name of national interest. Like what the Congress did in India. There has been organised discrimination against the Madhesis.
What are your main demands?
We want equal rights and opportunities and end to discrimination. We want autonomy and our own federal state in a federal state system. We want proportional representation and equal participation based on population in the services and government, including in the army.
Are you talking to the Maoists?
All democratic forces should get together. The YCL should be disbanded. The Maoists should be disarmed. Then we can shake hands. We were the biggest fighters against the Maoists. They wanted to capture power with arms, like in China, Cuba, North Korea. The MJF challenged them - but without arms. There should be management of the PLA, not integration. They should be given jobs, education, a role in the services. It's a political, ideological force. It is a political army. If they are integrated, it will affect the armed forces' neutrality.
Will you join the government?
No. It is too early to say. The government should not only be based on power-sharing. There should be a common minimum programme as in India.
Will the Nepal army follow the republican protocol?
Its role during the king's rule has been bad. They can't disrupt the democratic process. Ab woh zamana chala gaya (That era has gone). The army will have to accept the people's mandate. Currently, there is no danger from the army. They won't have any international legitimacy.
Has India's role been positive in Madhes.
I am not satisfied with the role of the South Block and Indian Embassy in Kathmandu. The propped up TMLP and other forces. The former ambassador (Shiv Shankar Mukherjee) ran away after the counting. They backed Sujata and Shekhar Koirala of the NC to defeat us. But we defeated them. It's not the mistake of the Indian government and the Indian people. There are sections which played dirty.
What about RAW?
I have nothing to say on that.
What about the armed secessionist groups in the Tarai?
We will talk to the armed groups. We will prepare the government to talk to them. The government should talk to them and bring them into the mainstream like the Maoists. We should work for conflict-resolution, a new Constitution and consensus.
It is alleged that you are loyal to the monarchy.
These are rumours of rumours. The monarchy must go. People want republican democracy.
And Koirala?
He should quit. He is physically, politically, mentally not fit for any post now.
You are linked with the BJP, RSS and VHP. Is it true?
All parties in India are my friends. I talk to all of them.