RAJBIRAJ, Sept 20: On Thursday, the eve of the Constitution Day, Nawal Kishor Sah, the social development minister of Province 2, led an anti-constitution march in the district of Saptari where leaders and cadres from his party, Rastriya Janata Party Nepal (RJPN), displayed black flags to mark the day as a “black day”.
When most of the people in several parts of the country are bracing to celebrate Friday, the day when the constitution was promulgated four years ago, Minister Sah himself led the anti-constitution march in his home district. Several cadres from Sah’s party displayed black flags at main chowks of the district and later hoisted them around the areas.
Addressing the anti-constitution march, Minister Sah said displaying flags was his compulsion. He said anti-constitution protests will be continued until the constitution is amended as demanded by the Madhes-based parties.
“Madhes-based parties will celebrate the Constitution Day with fanfare only when the constitution is amended,” said Sah, adding, “We are still struggling for amendments to the constitution although we are on the ruling bench.”
He urged the central government to amend the constitution so that they can enjoy greater autonomy.
The RJPN, which leads the provincial government in Province 2, which includes eight districts bordering with India, has decided to mark Friday as a black day. The party’s Deputy General Secretary Gajendra Mandal said black flags were shown at major market areas, motorcycle rallies were organized and anti-constitution slogans were painted around major cities to protest against the Constitution Day as decided by the party.
Black flags were hoisted in government offices as well. Government officials, however, removed the black flags after agitating protesters moved to their respective homes in the evening.
RJPN’s Saptari district chapter had called government officials not to light candles on the occasion of the Constitution Day. Instead, it has asked them to display black flags.
Rajbiraj Municipality’s deputy mayor Sadhana Jha and Tilathi Koiladi Rural Municipality chief Satish Singh among others were also present at the protest rally. Madhes-based parties want to determine electoral constituencies based on population, ensure greater political autonomy while federating the country and ensure equal citizenship rights for women.