Thousands March for peace in Nepal
REUTERS

KATHMANDU, JAN 7: Thousands of people staged a peace rally on Sunday in Kathmandu following violent protests in which five people died last month over alleged anti-Nepalese remarks by actor Hrithik Roshan.

The rally was the biggest in recent days seeking to calm inter-ethnic tension following the violence sparked by Roshan's alleged remarks that he did not like Nepalis or their Himalayan kingdom.

Roshan has denied making any such comments.

Participants in the Kathmandu peace rally, including businessmen and political activists, called for goodwill and harmony among people from different ethnic groups.

"Tolerance and brotherhood between different communities are our basic characters," read one banner. A similar, smaller rally was held on Thursday.

In last month's violence, extensive damage to property was reported after angry protesters attacked businesses and shops owned by Indians or Nepali nationals of Indian origin.

Protests were also organised along Nepal's southern plains bordering India where most of the residents are Hindi speaking Nepalis.

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