Madhes-based parties have demanded martyr status for 16 protesters killed during the five-month-long protest in the Tarai plains but were left out of the list earlier announced by the government.

In August, the government had bestowed martyr status to 52 people, including 11 security personnel, who died during the Madhes movement.

The regional parties, which had recommended 68 protesters for martyrdom, said that the remaining people should also be declared martyrs arguing that they too died during the anti-constitution protest. But the government turned down their request after the local administration found that many of the people

recommended to be enlisted died due to causes unrelated to the protest.

In a memorandum submitted to Home Minister Bimalendra Nidhi on Sunday, Morcha leaders asked the government to recognise the 16 protesters as martyrs soon. DPM Nidhi told the Morcha leaders that the government was verifying the recommended names.

The government, however, seems reluctant to recognise some of the names recommended by the Morcha considering the circumstances surrounding their death. Morcha’s martyrs list includes an Indian national who was killed during clash with the security forces in Birgunj and one who committed suicide.

During the meeting, the Morcha leaders also demanded Rs15 millions for medical expenses. Morcha claims

that more than 1,000 protesters had sustained injuries during confrontation with the security forces.

Home Minister Nidhi pledged to take prompt action to address the concerns of the Madhesi parties, said a Madhesi leader who was present in the meeting.

Sadbhawana Party Co-chairman Laxman Lal Karna said they are expecting a concrete decision from the government to address the remaining non-political demands of the agitating parties. “Most of our non-political demands have been addressed. It may not take longer to resolve the remaining issues,” said Karna.

Yadav warns of protest

OKHALDHUNGA: Sanghiya Samajbadi Forum Nepal Chairman Upendra Yadav has warned of street agitation if the constitution amendment process does not move forward soon. “The present constitution fails to address the country’s diversity. All the political parties should be responsible for it,” Yadav told a party programme in Okhaldhunga on Sunday. He added that the Samyukta Loktantrik Madhesi Morcha, an alliance of the Madhes-based parties, would mark the Constitution Day as the ‘black day’.