Federal Alliance accuses Nepal govt. of crackdown on protesters

Kathmandu : The Federal Alliance has accused Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli-led government of ordering a crackdown on its cadres who were taking part in the Kathmandu-centric protests which began on Sunday.

In a statement by the Federal Alliance on Monday, spokesperson Parashu Ram Tamang said that the police personnel stopped “thousands of leaders and cadres” heading to join the movement for seven to eight hours at midways, interrogated them with unnecessary questions, seized flags and banners and frisked them unnecessarily, reports the Himalayan Times.

The statement said that the police activities violated their basic right to movement.

“If any untoward incident takes place while suppressing our peaceful and nonviolent protests.We would like to inform that this racist government will be held responsible, ” the statement said.

Meanwhile, the Alliance continued the Singha Darbar gherao programme for the second consecutive day.

Protesters gathered outside Singha Darbar, chanted anti-government slogans and attempted to push through a police barricade.

Briefly, the police also used batons to tame the protesters but no serious injuries were reported on either side.

Alliance members, however, said that three protesters were injured and were undergoing treatment at the National Trauma Centre.

The alliance comprising of 27 political parties, including seven Madhesi forces, which have formed the Samyukta Loktantrik Madhesi Morcha (SLMM) had announced protest to exert pressure on the government to address their longstanding demands.

The disgruntled Madhesi parties demand redrawing provincial boundaries and amending some provisions of the Constitution.

The move comes days after the agitating forces’ declined the government’s offer to resume talks.

Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli-led government had on Monday written to the agitating parties, inviting them to the negotiating table.

No talks have been held between the two parties since February 18, the day the government formed a political mechanism to address the agitating parties concerns.

The alliance has vowed to continue the protest programmes until their demands are met. (ANI)