KATHMANDU: Dalit youth staged a protest in front of the Nepali Congress central office in Sanepa, demanding the removal of Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak.

The demonstrators, affiliated with the Dalit Campaign for Dalits, gathered outside the party headquarters, questioning Lekhak’s role in the Sarlahi inter-caste marriage controversy. They accused him of attempting to separate a couple who had married across caste lines and called for his immediate removal from the ministry.

Protesters urged the Nepali Congress to take action against the Home Minister, holding him accountable for what they claim is interference in the rights of Dalit communities.

Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak is accused of using his power to separate an inter-caste couple, Neha Rauniyar and Satyendra Ram, from Barahathawa, Sarlahi.

Activist Khagendra Sunar has launched a campaign against Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak, accusing him of playing a key role in separating an inter-caste couple. Sunar attempted to file a case against Lekhak at the District Police Range in Kathmandu yesterday. The day before, he had staged a protest at Maitighar Mandala, demanding the Home Minister’s removal.

He also plans to stage a demonstration in front of Gagan Thapa’s private residence in the coming days.