The Sanghiya Gathabandhan, an alliance formed by the protesting Madhesi and Janajati forces, has started a relay hunger strike in Rajbiraj, the district headquarters of Saptari.

The agitators began their fast at Janaandolan Chowk in Rajbiraj on Saturday morning demanding amendment to several provisions of the constitution passed in September last year. The Gathabandhan has also been staging a relay hunger strike in the Capital. Shailendra Prasad Sah, central member of the Sanghiya Samajbadi Forum Nepal, said the protest was launched in the district in a bid to intensify the agitation in the plains, which were plagued by protests surrounding the statute promulgation last year.

The Gathabandhan that launched protests in Tarai and Kathmandu in phases has been staging the relay hunger strike at Khulamanch in Kathmandu since June 7.

Sadbhawana Party Chair Sunil Kumar Jha, Rastriya Samjbadi Party Chairman Gajendra Mandal and Nepal Sadbhawana Party Chairman Amarnath Mandal were among those staging the fast on Saturday. The leaders said they were forced to protest as the state paid no heed to the issues of Madhesi people.