CPN-UML activists staged a protest in Gamgadhi, the district headquarters of Mugu, on Thursday demanding resignation of Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal for registering the constitution amendment bill at Parliament with an “intent to divide Hill and Tarai districts”.

“We will not let the government to endorse the proposal at any cost,” said Dharma Bahadur Shahi, district chairman of the UML. The supporters of the party have demanded to hold local body election soon. In Gulmi, locals joined activists of political parties in protest against the plan to split Province 5. They fixed a board written “Province 5” in front of the District Administration Office. They have been protesting in the district for the last nine days.

In Palpa, normal life has been affected due to an indefinite strike called against the constitution amendment bill. Schools, businesses, transportation service and industries have remained shut  for nine days due to the protests. Protesters picketed the District Administration Office and shut down government offices on Thursday to press their demands to keep Province 5 intact. 

In Pyuthan, district chapter of the NGO Federation of Nepal, a federation of all NGOs working in Nepal, coordinated to send SMS messages to the lawmakers representing the district. 

The organisation requested lawmakers to stand against the amendment proposal of splitting the Hill districts in Lumbini and Rapti zones from Province 5. 

Ramesh Kumar Shrestha, chairman of the chapter, said people have sent text messages to lawmakers Hira Bahadur KC, Bamdev Gautam, Dhan Bahadur Rayamajhi, Durga Paudel and Punaram Thapa. 

In Bardiya, Tharu leaders said that the government had undermined their demands by registering the constitution amendment bill. “Kailali has been separated from the Tharuhat region. We want Tharu region with Kailali district,” they said.