There were mixed feelings on Monday as the country observed the first anniversary of the constitution promulgation.

In the Capital, President Bidhya Devi Bhandari and Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal attended a programme organised to observe the first Constitution Day, while the agitating groups, including the Madhesi, Tharu and Janajati, in Tarai and some hill districts observed it as “black day”.

Madhesi, Tharu and Janajati groups have been protesting against the constitution for long, saying that the charter adopted last year “marginalises some sections of the society”.

The agitating groups on Monday took the streets Parsa, Chitwan, Rautahat, Dhanusha, Siraha, Saptari, Banke and Khotang among other districts with black strips on their arms heads.

In Birgunj, the Madhes-based parties staged demonstrations in various parts of the city. They also organised a photo exhibition of Madhes movement in Ghantaghar. The protesting Madhesi leaders said they were forced to mark this day as “black day” as the constitution had been promulgated ignoring their rights.

In Rautahat, the activists of Madhesi parties showed black flags during the rally organised by the local administration in Gaur. The area remained tense as the security personnel attempted to confiscate the black flags from the protesters.

Similarly, the Samyukta Loktantrik Madhesi Morcha, an alliance of seven Madhes-based parties, staged demonstration in Janakpur. Morcha leaders warned of staging more protests if the constitution was not amended to address their demands.

Our local correspondents from Chitwan reported that Tharus took out protest rally against the constitution in the district.

Activists of the Sanghiya Samajbadi Forum-Nepal hoisted a black flag in front of the District Administration Office to protest the constitution day.

Just as protests were organised in various parts of the country, in the Capital a special ceremony was organised to mark the Constitution Day.

President Bhandari, Prime Minister, Chief Justice Sushila Karki, Deputy Prime Ministers Bimalendra Nidhi and Krishna Bahadur Mahara, ministers, lawmakers and senior leaders of the political parties and other high level officials attended the ceremony.

A minute’s silence was observed in memory of martyrs who lost their lives in the struggle for democracy and republicanism.

Months-long protest in the Tarai region following the promulgation of the constitution last year had resulted in at least 50 deaths.

Several rounds of talks held between the agitating groups and the previous government could not make any headway, while a constitution amendment in January too failed to address the concerns raised by the agitating groups.