117 sacrificed their lives in the three-stage Madhes movement
Kathmandu, January 19
Janamat Party President CK Raut mourned those who were martyred in the Madhes movement in the Parliament today.
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.
