Rajbiraj, August 31

Local Muslim people of Saptari today held a massive demonstration in the district headquarters Rajbiraj, in a show of solidarity with the ongoing agitation launched by Madhesi Front Saptari to protest against the preliminary draft of the statute and the proposed federal model.

Thousands of people from the Muslim community from far-flung villages gathered at Raj Rangashala. From there, they took out a rally that traversed through different parts of the town before concluding in a meeting at Gajendra Chowk.

Anis Ansari, a Muslin leader and a former minister expressed solidarity with the ongoing agitation for a separate Madhes Province and demanded that the state guarantee identity and rights of the community in the new constitution.

Earlier today, Muslim Society Saptari had sent a memorandum to the president, the prime minister, and the Speaker, seeking secular identity of the state in the statute.

Apart from the issue of identity, the speakers at the programme also sought quotas for the community in various fields and state mechanisms, besides speaking for formation of a Madarasa Board, Hajj Committee and a statutory National Muslim Commission.

A demonstration was also held here today by teachers of community and private schools in the district, expressing solidarity with the agitation in the plains. The teachers vowed to halt all teaching-learning activities until the agitators’ demands were met.

Meanwhile, another rally was also taken out here today seeking declaration of the country as a Hindu state. Hundreds of people rallied at the call of Vaidik Sanatan Hindu Dharma Jagaran Abhiyan Rajbiraj.

The rally moved through different parts of Rajbiraj bazaar before concluding in a corner meeting in front of the local Shiva Temple.

The speakers at the programme demanded that the country be identified as a Hindu state in the upcoming statute.