Nepal Opposition withdraws strike following violence

There were clashes between bandh enforcers and police at Bijulibazar in the capital and between the former and locals in some districts, like Sankhuwasabha and Khotang in the east. File photo

The proposed three-day general strike enforced by 30-party Opposition alliance on Tuesday turned violent across the country, with 20 vehicles and some government offices vandalised and set ablaze, Ministry of Home Affairs said in a statement. Following this, the alliance cancelled its decision to hold bandh on the next two days.

Vehicles vandalised

Chairman of UCPN (Maoist) Pushpa Kamal Dahal proposed withdrawing the

bandh in the light of the Constituent Assembly (CA) meet being postponed until April 13. The decision to withdraw, opposed by some Madhesi leaders, according to reports, came amidst rising anger against the shutdown. 

Earlier, there were clashes between bandh enforcers and police at Bijulibazar in the capital and between the former and locals in some districts, like Sankhuwasabha and Khotang in the east.  

 According to the Home Ministry, 17 vehicles were vandalised across the country and additional three vehicles were set ablaze.

The police detained 50 people who tried “forced shutdown, vandalising vehicles, setting fire to government properties”. 

Police also refuted a claim by ex-PM and leader of UCPN (Maoist) Baburam Bhattarai who said the police resorted to firing. “There was no firing; police resorted to tear-gas shells after the strike enforcers tried to vandalise,” Nepal Police Spokesperson DIG Kamal Singh Bam told  The Hindu . 

The 30-party alliance says it was forced to resort to bandh since the ruling parties were not interested in seeking consensus to disputes related to the new Constitution, a charge denied by the ruling Nepali Congress and CPN (UML).