Samyukta Loktantrik Madhesi Morcha, a coalition of four Madhes-based political parties, has said it will take part in the Legislature-Parliament meetings from Sunday. The SLMM has been agitating for nearly two and a half months.

Morcha leaders said on Saturday that they decided to return to Parliament to mount pressure on the government to address their demands.

The four constituents of the Morcha—Sanghiya Samajbadi Forum Nepal, Tarai Madhes Loktantrik Party, Sadbhawana Party and Tarai Madhes Sadbhawana Party—have 35 members in Parliament in total.

“The decision is in line with our strategy to put pressure [on the government] both from the street and Parliament,” said Ashok Rai, Parliamentary Party leader of the Sanghiya Samajbadi Forum Nepal.  “We will strongly raise state oppression and human rights violation issues in Parliament on Sunday,” he said.

Rai warned that day-to-day proceedings of the House would be obstructed if the government “fails to justify unnecessary use of force and oppression”.

Morcha’s decision to join the House came shortly after the Nepali Congress urged the protesting parties to seek solution through Parliament. The NC also has warned that it will obstruct Parliament proceedings to press the government to move forward the constitution amendment proposal registered at Parliament and the Bill on National Reconstruction Authority.

The constitution amendment proposal and Bill on National Reconstruction Authority were registered by the Sushil Koirala government.

“Constitution cannot be amended by protesting at no man’s land; [the agitating forces] need to come to the Parliament for that,” NC General Secretary Krishna Prasad Sitaula said earlier on Saturday while addressing a programme in Hetauda.

Sadbhawana Party General Secretary Manish Kumar Suman said the protests, including obstructions at border points, however, would continue.

“We did take part in the prime ministerial election, and it is logical for us to return to Parliament to make sure that our demands are duly addressed,” said Suman.

The alliance of the Madhes-based parties has been staging various forms of protests in the Tarai region for the past 84 days. The Morcha says the constitution marginalises various sections of society and has been demanding amendments to the constitution.

“Protests will continue till our demands are met,” Sanghiya Samajbadi Forum Nepal Chairman Upendra Yadav told the Post over phone from Nepalgunj.