Pokhara, May 14:

The Maoist-affiliated Nepal Dalit Mukti Morcha Unified (Kaski) today staged a demonstration here to press the government to meet its several demands.

The demonstrators went around the city and later held a street corner meeting at the Pardi-based District Administration Office (DAO).

The Morcha also handed over a memorandum to the DAO, demanding that the parliament declare the country a republic. It called for an end to racial discrimination, describing it as a social crime against humanity.

The 18-point memorandum also urged the government to make a stern law to counter discrimination against Dalits and make the Rastriya Dalit Commission all powerful.

Morcha district chairman Pushkar BK, Gandaki regional coordinator Bhuwan Sunar and other members handed over the memorandum to the assistant CDO Chhetra Bahadur Bhandari.

Speaking at the street corner meeting, regional coordinator Sunar warned that the Morcha would wage a strong agitation with a new programme if its demands were not met by mid-June.