RAJBIRAJ: Minister for Agriculture and Land Management in Province 2, Shailendra Prasad Sah has paid homage to the family members of martyrs to the Madhesi movement in Bhardaha of Saptari district today.

During his visit, Raj Kumar Raut, son of martyr Ram Krishna Raut asked Minister Sah when the family members would get employed. Raut lamented that a trust was yet to be set up for the martyrs, which the Madhesi leaders had promised during the indefinite Madhes bandh imposed by the Madhesi people.

Ram Krishna Raut (60) of Portaha VDC was killed when the security personnel opened fire on protesters during a violent clash at Bhardaha of Saptari on August 18, 2017 during the indefinite Madhes bandh.

Minister Sah also met with Nirmala Raut, who was widowed during the Madhesi movement. Her husband Rajib Raut (35) died in a clash with security personnel at Bhardaha on September 9, 2015. She called the minister's attention to her two children's education.

She expressed that it grieved her when she thought about the future of her five-year-old son Aryan and three-year-old daughter Arya. Similarly, the martyr's father Bhim said that bringing up the children in absence of their father has been difficult. He urged Minister Sah to keep their promise.

In response to the family members of the two martyrs, Minister Sah said, the first meeting of the Council of Ministers has already decided to find employment for one person from the family of each martyr. He urged them to have patience and wait until the implementation of the policy.

Further, the minister who is also the central member of Federal Socialist Forum-Nepal asserted that agriculture, irrigation, education and health were high on the list of priorities for the development of Province 2. He said, "The Madhesi leaders came to power because of the martyrs and therefore we must prioritise their issues."

Minister Sah, elected from Saptari Constituency 2 'Ka', also paid homage to Pushpa Raya, wife of Bal Krishna Raya, who collapsed and died while participating in the human chain formed by the United Democratic Madhesi Front along the East-West postal highway in Saptari district. Likewise, he visited Dev Narayan Vishwas who sustained bullet injuries in his leg during the Madhesi movement.