KATHMANDU, Sept 5: Federal Alliance and the United Democratic Madhesi Front (UDMF) have announced to mark September 19 (Asoj 3), the anniversary of constitution promulgation, as 'black day'.

The separate meetings of the secretariats of the alliance and the UDMF on Sunday decided to mark the anniversary of the constitution promulgation with three-day long protest program.
 
"The UDMF will organize corner meetings and discussion programs on September 18 while the September 19 will be marked with mass meetings with black flags and black-out in the evening. On September 20, we will remember the martyrs of Madhes movement with candle-light procession," informed Manish Suman, the general secretary of Sadbhavana Party.

The secretariat of the alliance has also adopted similar program for the three days. According to Ram Naresh Raya of Tarai-Madhes Sadbhavana Party, the alliance will mark September 19 as black day and highlight the discriminatory provisions of the constitution.

Meanwhile, the meeting of alliance on Sunday has formed a taskforce, which includes Raya, Lal Babu Raut of Federal Socialist Forum Nepal, Brishesh Chandra Lal of Tarai-Madhes Democratic Party, Laxman Lal Karna of Sadbhavana Party, Gopal Dahit of Tharuhat Tarai Party, and Keshav Jha of Rastriya Madhes Samajbadi Party, to finalize the stances of the alliance for constitution amendment.

The meeting has also urged the government to start the process for amendment of the constitution as per the three-point agreement inked while electing CPN (Maoist Center) Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal as prime minister.

"The prime minister has been discussing the constitution amendment issue with other parties including the main opposition CPN-UML but he is yet to hold a meeting with top leaders of the alliance and the UDMF to inform about the progress," said Raya.

"He had verbally asked for one month period for starting constitution amendment process but he is yet to hold a single meeting with the alliance and UDMF," Raya lamented.

The UDMF and the alliance have been demanding constitution amendment for changing the provincial delineation, ensuring proportional inclusion and electoral constituencies based on population along with several other issues related to citizenship and language.  

 
• federal alliance and the united democratic madhesi front
 
• september 19
 
• anniversary of constitution promulgation
 
• black day