As the government prepares to celebrate the first anniversary of promulgation of the country’s new constitution, the agitating parties have decided to observe it as the black day.

The constitution drafted by the Constituent Assembly was adopted on September 20 last year amid protests from Madhesi and Tharu forces in which more than 50 people including security personnel were killed.

The Madhes-based parties have refused to take ownership of the charter, insisting that they would own it up only after the government makes further amendments to address their demands.

The government has announced to celebrate the historic occasion from September 17 to 19 with events across the country. President Bidhya Devi Bhandari and heads of the constitutional bodies are scheduled to attend the main event to be organised at Tundhikhel.

The Samyukta Loktantrik Madhesi Morcha, an alliance of the Madhes-based parties, has already decided to observe the occasion as the black day. Morcha, which did not take part first in the constitution drafting process and then in the voting, has been demanding major changes in the constitution that, according to them, discriminates against a certain section of the society.

The constitution was imposed upon the disgruntled people through the use of force, said Sadbhawana Party Chairman Rajendra Mahato. Morcha affiliates are organising events to honour the protesters who died during the Madhes movement. For instance, the Parsa chapter of the Madhesi Morcha has been observing a martyrs’ week.