The Province 2 government has written to the federal government demanding a halt to the production and broadcasting of three television shows over their derogatory content towards the Madhesi community.

In a letter to Minister for Communication and Information Technology Yubaraj Khatiwada, Province 2 Chief Attorney Dipendra Jha had called for taking three television shows–'Corona Birsaune Guffgaff', 'What The Flop' and 'Joginder Bole Pradamji'–be off air from national television channels over its content.

“[Characters] in these three television shows as well as some feature films are being used to demean a certain community [Madhesi community] through their dialogue, acting and caricature for the entertainment of a certain section of people,” reads the letter. “Such acts could disturb the national unity and communal harmony.”

The letter has been copied to the Home Ministry, National Human Rights Commission, Madhesi Commission, Office of the Attorney General, Press Council Nepal and Film Development Board.

In the letter, the Province 2 government has requested to stop such discriminatory programmes so as to ensure people’s constitutional and legal rights.

“We request you to treat this letter as a complaint and initiate investigation into all those and take action,” reads the letter.

‘Corona Birsaune Guffgaff’, a television show on Krishi Television, was doing rounds on social media on Wednesday, where callers made fun of a character, who pretends to be a Madhesi, while the anchor appears to be complicit.

Nepali Congress lawmaker Gagan Thapa also expressed his displeasure towards such programmes.