Residents of Susta in West Nawalparasi, who remain deprived of legal identity and land ownership despite living on Nepali soil for a long time, have arrived in Kathmandu to demand Nepali citizenship and official land titles.
They have traveled to the capital to seek security for their homes and a guarantee of the fundamental rights they are entitled to from the state.
The affected Susta residents began a peaceful sit-in protest at Maitighar Mandala in Kathmandu on Tuesday.
The protesters say recent remarks by the prime minister regarding the Nepal-India border dispute, followed by ministerial-level statements, have heightened tensions in the border region.
They complain that these political and diplomatic statements have led to increased harassment, hardships, and mental stress inflicted upon them by the Indian security forces (SSB) stationed at the border.
They have made the journey to Kathmandu to exert pressure for a permanent solution, noting that they are the ones who directly bear the brunt of official state-level rhetoric and discussions.
The protesters shared their pain, stating that despite safeguarding their land for generations, they are forced to live like refugees in their own country, lack citizenship and legal land ownership, and face excesses from Indian security forces while trying to protect the border.
Their primary demands are that the government immediately grant Nepali citizenship to eligible residents of Susta and provide legal ownership (land titles) for the lands they have been using.
Furthermore, they have called for urgent diplomatic efforts by the government to put an end to the harassment of Nepali citizens by Indian security forces in border areas.
