C. K. Raut

Raut was born in Mahadeva Village, in the Saptari district, Sagarmatha Zone of Nepal. He attended primary school in his village and high school in Laxmi Ballav Narsingh Secondary School in Babhangama Katti.[7] He went on to study at Tribhuvan University (Nepal), Tokyo University (Japan) and Cambridge University (UK). He is a recipient of Young Nepalese Engineer Award, Mahendra Bidhya Bhusan, Kulratna Gold Medal, and Trofimenkoff Academic Achievement Award.[8]

On 13 September 2014, the Government of Nepal arrested Raut for on the grounds of sedition after giving a speech to a gathering of Santhals, an indigenous population of Nepalese, in their annual festival. After his arrest, Raut began to fast in protest, arguing that his right to freedom and expression was being violated by the government.[9][10][11][12] He was subsequently hospitalized on 25 September after complaints of severe stomach pain. Nepali Congress Vice-President Ram Chandra Poudel, Minister for Information and Communications Minendra Rijal, and Agriculture Minister Hari Parajuli visited Raut in the hospital to urge him to end his fast.[13] Raut ended his fast on the 1 October, after 11 days, upon the Nepalese government's request and commitment to respect freedom of expression. The Attorney Office filed a sedition case at the Special Court on 8 October.[14]

New York City based Human Rights Watch issued this statement on the arrest and subsequent filing of sedition charges against Raut.[1] The Nepal authorities should immediately withdraw sedition charges and unconditionally release rights campaigner Chandra Kant Raut. His arrest threatens the chances of a robust debate on federalism, and undermines the promise of inclusion. Raut's arrest shows that minority voices can and will be easily sidelined.[15]

Asian Human Rights Commission stated, that everyone has the rights to freedom of speech, movement, peaceful assembly and association are the fundamental rights of all human beings everywhere, as also mandated by the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights, of which Nepal is a signatory, we expect acknowledgement and assurance of our rights from the state and its agencies.[1] The AHRC urges the government of Nepal to immediately release Dr Chandra Kant Raut. The AHRC fears possible torture, harassment and other ill treatment during their arbitrary arrest by the Morang Police."[16] Amnesty International also wrote a letter to the Nepalese Minister for Home Affairs, demanding Raut's release.[17][18]

On 3 January 2015, Raut was again arrested while giving a speech at Jutwa College. Many supporters were injured following a clash with police. A dozen police personnel were also injured. Raut's supporters claimed police had used brutal force and did not allow him to be hospitalised locally for injuries incurred during the clash.[19]

Raut is the president and the founding member of Alliance for Independent Madhesh, which in its manifesto has described itself as a coalition of Terai people discriminated by Pahadi civilisation. It has people of various sub-ethnicities, activists, parties and various organisations who are working towards establishing an independent Madhesh. Although it was established in 2007, it did not announce their manifesto until a press conference in Kathmandu on 21 May 2012. The manifesto states the main objective of the alliance is to achieve independence of Madhesh through peaceful and non-violent means. It has also demanded an end an end to racism, slavery and discrimination imposed on Nepali people of Madheshi origin by the Pahadi people. It claims to have three pillars: independent Madhesh of Nepal, non-violence and peaceful means, and a democratic system.[20]

Janamat Party was formed by Raut on 18 March 2019.[1]

1. मधेश स्वराज / Madhesh Swaraj
2. मधेश का इतिहास / A History of Madhesh
3. वीर मधेशी / Bir Madheshi
4. वैरागदेखि बचावसम्म (आत्मकथा) [Denial to Defense][14]
5. Black Buddhas: The Madheshis of Nepal (documentary)[3]