Members of the Gopal Sewa Committee, Rautahat, on Monday took out a rally carrying bamboo sticks to express solidarity with the Madhes agitation. Thousands of people participated in the rally, which was led by the committee’s chairman Hema Yadav. Participants of the rally shouted slogans against the government and made a round of Gaur Bazaar. The rally had begun from the local bus park and concluded at Miteri Bridge. Demonstrators said people have hit the streets after the police used force on protesters who were peacefully staging a sit-in in Birgunj on Monday morning. Rights activists said death of a protester in Birgunj has worsened the situation in Madhes. Woman rights activist Kiran Thakur said a great tragedy might strike the nation if the situation in Madhes remains the same.