People protesting against the naming of Koshi province waved black flags at CPN-UML chairman KP Sharma Oli in Ilam Bazaar on Thursday.

The protesters staged demonstrations at Chowk Bazaar while the former prime minister Oli and other UML leaders were on their way to attend a party function. The protesters demanded renaming the province to reflect the region’s ethnic identity.

Addressing UML supporters, Oli asserted that it was pointless to protest against the name of the province as the provincial assembly named the province in line with the law. Speaking at the House of Representatives meeting on Wednesday, UML chief whip Padam Giri drew the government’s attention to the ‘mistreatment’ against Oli.

Meanwhile, a group of UML leaders including the party’s standing committee member Rajan Bhattarai met Home Minister Narayankaji Shrestha and demanded that the government take action against those who tried to disrupt UML functions and mistreat the UML chief.