Nepal's Madhesi community Monday decides to resume peaceful but intensified protests, local leading media group's website eKantipur reported.

"We are resuming our struggle because the government did not create the necessary climate for talks," Chairman of Madhesi People's Rights Forum (MPRF, also called Madhesi Janadhikar Forum) Upendra Yadav said on Monday. "It will be a united struggle of Madhesi nationalities, ethnic groups and Dalits as well."

Madhesi people are always referred to people mainly living in southern Nepal's Terai plains with Indian origin. Dalits are people belonging to lower caste.

A central committee meeting of MPRF on Monday decided to continue with an intensified peaceful agitation.

Yadav Monday reiterated the organization's demands for the resignation of Home Minister Krishna Prasad Sitaula and accused the government of failing to create a climate for talks.

Home Minister Sitaula's resignation and formation of a high level commission to probe into the Terai movement are the two main conditions that MPRF had set for talks.

The next round of agitation will be peaceful, unlike that of the past, and all the more "powerful", Yadav said.

On Sunday, Yadav once warned that the forum would begin an armed movement if Home Minister Sitaula would not resign by Sunday evening. MPRF's 10-day ultimatum to the government to create favorable climate for talks from Feb. 8 ended on Sunday.

The violent protests, mainly led by MPRF since Jan. 19 in southern Nepal's Terai plains, suspended on Feb. 7 after Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala addressed to the nation. In the televised address, PM Koirala assured Madhesi activists that their demands for a federal setup and proportionate electorate system would be addressed.

The Terai unrest from Jan. 19 to Feb. 7 claimed more than 20 lives. Many Terai towns witnessed curfews, strikes and widespread vandalism of public and private properties.

Source: Xinhua