A lantern rally was organised in Pyuthan on Tuesday as a symbolic protest against the constitution amendment bill that proposes splitting Province 5.

The rally, organised by a joint struggle committee of various political parties in the district, saw a spontaneous participation of locals, who joined carrying burning lanterns and candles. Shopkeepers and other business-owners closed their establishments to partake in the rally that converged into a corner assembly at Jumri Bazaar.

Addressing the assembly, lawmaker Dhan Bahadur Rayamajhi said they will continue the protest until the government revokes the constitution amendment bill that proposes dividing the Hill districts of Lumbini and Rapti zones from Province 5 and merging them to Province 4.

“Around 200 lawmakers are against the amendment proposal. Even if the bill goes into process, it won’t be endorsed,” he claimed.

Amar Prasad Bhandari, the district president of Nepali Congress, said: “We have asked party leadership not to support the constitution amendment bill. And some of the senior leaders have supported our demand.”

Meanwhile, the struggle committee has said it will announce another round of protests against the amendment bill after holding talks with the political leaders in the neighbouring districts of Rolpa and Dang on Wednesday.