Marathon Protest Kicks off in Nepal's Capital

Nepal, May 16 (ANI): The Madhesi party, who have been holding protests in lower region of Nepal for past six months, began Kathmandu-centered protests to press government to pay attention to their various demands. Though, the Government of Nepal has called the Madhesi Morcha for talks, no conclusion or agreement has been reached. The federal alliance have been demanding equal rights, autonomous state for marginalized groups and rewriting of the constitution. Upendra Yadav, leader of Madhesi Jana Adhikar Forum, who was leading the protest in Maitighar Mandala, near Nepal's Army Headquarter, also demanded that the constitution should be rewritten. He claimed that last year's constitution was not widely accepted and was indeed regressive. The disgruntled Madhesi parties, who also have about one hundred seats in the Legislature Parliament of Nepal (renamed after promulgation of Constitution last year), has raised voice against the promulgated constitution since a long period of time. They say the marathon protest is a compulsion. It's been a long time since the Madhesis and their allies have been staging protests in Nepal. Earlier, the community has staged border-centric protest, halting the import and export from India and Nepal. The alliance, which has started the week-long protest in the capital, have claimed to have staged a peaceful protest. But the protest can turn violent, if the government uses force or refuses to address their demands. The agitating party wants the constitution to be re-written, but the government, instead, intends to amend it.