Mahantha Thakur, a senior leader of the Samyukta Loktantrik Madhesi Morcha (SLMM), on Monday remarked that Madhes is “still viewed as a colony of Kathmandu”.

Speaking at a seminar organised by Nepal-India Women Friendly Society in the Constitution Club in New Delhi, Thakur said, “Discriminatory system and inequalities continue to persist in Nepal due to Kathmandu’s reluctance to leave its discriminatory past behind.”

Top Morcha leaders, including Thakur, are currently in the Indian capital at the invitation of Nepal-India Women Friendly Society.

Stating that the Madhesi people have “become migrants in their own country”, Thakur said, “Even now we can find two types of ruling structure in Nepal—one is ‘Kathmandu Nepal’ and another is ‘Madhes Nepal’.”

Defining the dimensions of Nepal-India relations, he drew comparisons between poets Tulsidas and Bhanubhakta and the height of Mt Everest and the depth of an ocean. “But it is painful when we are dubbed ‘Indian agent’ when we struggle for the rights of the Madhesi people,” said Thakur. “We have become ‘unwanted people’ in our own country.”

Indian experts on Nepal affairs were present in the seminar.

Thakur added that the Madhes-based parties were planning to launch even stronger movement if their demands were not met within a certain time frame.

The SLMM earlier this week had submitted a memorandum to Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, urging the government to address their political and non-political demands. The Morcha has threatened to intensify protests from next month if their demands are not met.

Sanghiya Samajbadi Forum Nepal Chairman Upendra Yadav, another Morcha, said the Madhesis’ protests had not ended. “We will continue our protests unless Madhesis rights are ensured,” said Yadav. Morcha leaders are holding political meetings in New Delhi.

On Sunday, Thakur and Yadav held talks with Indian Home Minister Rajnath Singh and discussed political issues and Madhes problems. They are also likely to meet leaders of ruling and other parties.