Nepal President Bidya Devi Bhandari during a visit to Janakpur, about 120km from Kathmandu, yesterday.

IANS
Kathmandu
Madhesis yesterday attacked the motorcade of Nepal President Bidhya Devi Bhandari and hurled a petrol bomb at a well-known temple she visited, authorities said.
The incident took place in Janakpur, about 120km from Kathmandu.
Activists of Madeshi Morcha, an alliance of four Terai-based parties, were protesting against Nepal’s new constitution promulgated in September.
The Morcha had decided to oppose the president’s visit as she represents the ruling
CPN-UML party.
Hundreds of Morcha cadres took to the streets in Janakpur against her visit as head of the state, police said. Many waved black flags.
They also stoned her motorcade and targeted her vehicle. But the Nepal army, responsible for her security, quickly shifted her to a secure place.
Police fired dozens of teargas shells to disperse the mob.
“I have great faith on Mithila and Janakpur,” the president said in her brief comments to the media. She spent just over 10 minutes at the temple.
Now the situation is under control, said Senior Superintendentof Police Suresh Shah.
Indian ambassador Ranjit Rae had also planned to visit the temple but he cancelled the trip citing security reason.
Bhandari was appointed Nepal’s president in October. She was her party’s vice chair earlier.
Protests by Madesh parties against the new constitution have virtually blocked key Nepal-India border points, causing widespread shortages in the country.
On Tuesday, the government agreed to consider amendments on how the states could be drawn under the new federal system. The Madhesis, who share close ethnic and cultural ties with India, rejected that proposal as a delaying tactic and demanded a change by decree.
At least 50 people have died in violent protests in the southern Terai region during the last half of the year. India has closed the common border since late September, causing severe shortages of goods, including fuel.