New Delhi, Nov. 23 (ANI): A day after at least four people were killed in the clashes between Nepalese police and protesters, the country’s ambassador to India, Deep Upadhya, said that it is wrong to say that Madhesis are of Indian origin.
“It is thought that they are people of Indian origin. It is not like that. If you see it that way, then it is possible that maybe 400-500 years back, we also migrated from India,” he said in an exclusive interview to ANI, addressing the ongoing conflict at Indo-Nepal border due to protests against the Nepalese constitution by the Madhesi community.
Upadhya said that they are all one, adding that there should be no attempts to divide them.
Emphasising that it was wrong to say they are of Indian-origin, Upadhya claimed that around 50 percent population in Madhes is from India.
“There are traces of Indian population in our demography. It is around half. In Himalayas, it is around 6-7 percent. In mountains, it is around 42-43 percent. Similarly, there are around 50 percent in Madhes. In Madhes, there are a lot of your tribal population. There are your aadivasis, tharu tribal population and Muslims who tell themselves apart,” Upadhya said.
“There are ups and downs between india and Pakistan which have to be resolved. We can neither change our neighbours nor geographical terrain,” he added.
At least four people were killed in clashes between the Nepalese security forces and protesters in several parts of the eastern and central Tarai yesterday. Tarai is a region already reeling under an acute shortage of essential supplies.
At least 50 people, including nine security personnel have been killed in protests against the new constitution.
Earlier, a 19-year-old student from Darbhanga in Bihar was killed after Nepal police opened fire near the border to prevent Madhesi protesters from retaking a bridge that demarcates the Raxaul-Birgunj border between the two countries. (ANI)