[5] Raut was 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.

[6] 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.

[11] Raut ended his fast on the 1 October, after 11 days, upon the Nepalese government's request and commitment to respect freedom of expression.

Raut's supporters claimed police had used brutal force and did not allow him to be hospitalised locally for injuries incurred during the clash.

[13] Raut quitted the secessionist movement on 8 March 2019, signing agreement with Prime minister KP Sharma Oli.

New York City based Human Rights Watch issued the statement on the arrest and subsequent filing of sedition charges against Raut.

He is often seen as a dangerous element active in weakening the national sovereignty and controversial individual creating deep fractions between the madheshi and pahadi community.