The Nepal Students Union (NSU) launched a protest programme on Tuesday against the controversial comment made by Kirti Azad, suspended Indian lawmaker of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), when Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi was on a state visit to Nepal.

A team led by NSU General Secretary Kundanraj Kafle on Tuesday demonstrated in front of Tri-Chandra College for around an hour.

The NSU protested against Azad’s remark that Janakpur should be incorporated into India. The student wing of the main opposition Nepali Congress also called the government to probe into alleged insult of Nepali national flag and Nepali Army by allowing Indian Army to charge of the security arrangements of the visiting Indian PM.

NSU leader Deepak Bhattarai said the union organised the protest programme after the government turned a deaf ear to the statement of Province 2 Chief Minister Mohammad Lalbabu Raut, restriction on the Nepali media from entering the Muktinath temple, and border encroachment.

NSU Vice-president Ram Prasad Adhikari urged the government to take up the issue with the higher Indian authorities, warning that “Azad’s remarks—direct attack on Nepal’s sovereignty—could damage the age-old relations between the two countries”. The NSU has decided to continue the agitation until Azad apologises for his remark.