INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
Kathmandu, January 19Janamat Party President CK Raut
mourned those who were martyred in the Madhes movement in the Parliament today.
Newly-elected HoR Speaker Ghimire takes
CPN (UML) lawmaker Devraj Ghimire elected HoR Speaker
Participating in the discussion in the Parliament before voting
for the HoR speaker, Raut expressed displeasure saying that the Madhesi and Tharu communities had been pushed against the wall with the
slogan of national consensus
Raut said the state had declared those who died in the Madhes movement as martyrs, but the Parliament did not recognise them.
He said he wanted to mourn on the occasion of Madhes Sacrifice Day
When he stood in the rostrum and mourned, some MPs stood up while others did not
At first, only MPs from Madhes-centric party stood up
Other MPs also stood up afterwards.Prime Minister Dahal did not stand, while the deputy prime minister and home minister stood up and
mourned.Today, marks the 16th year of the Madhes movement
On 15 January 2007, the government issued an interim constitution
Expressing dissatisfaction with the interim constitution, a copy of the constitution was burnt on January 19 in Maitighar under the
leadership of the Madhesi Janadhikhar Forum, the then organisation at that time.After Upendra Yadav and others were arrested while burning
the constitution, the agitation started in Madhes
The Madhes movement became violent after student leader Ramesh Mahato was shot dead in Lahan of Siraha on January 19
The same day is observed as Madhes Sacrifice Day in Madhes
Madhes Province government has been observing Madhes Sacrifice Day, by giving a public holiday on 19 January.A total of 117 people
sacrificed their lives in the three-stage Madhes movement
In 2008, 54 people sacrificed their lives, 56 people in 2015, five in 2016 and two in 2017
Experts say the demand of Madhesis has not been fulfilled due to power struggle.A version of this article appears in the print on January
20, 2023, of The Himalayan Times.
This article first appeared/also appeared in https://thehimalayantimes.com