Skip to main content

Kantipath turns tense as RPP cadres clash with police



Kantipath, a renowned street in the capital named after a queen, turned into battleground for hours on Monday after violent clashes broke out between police personnel and cadres of the Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP), who were trying to stage sit-in in front of the Election Commission. Several protesters including RPP senior leader Pashupathi Shumshere Jung Bahadur Rana and television personality Komal Oli, who is also an RPP leader, were injured during the scuffle.The Metropolitan Police Division said the clash ensued after an “unruly mob” tried to enter the EC building and resorted to vandalism. RPP leaders however accused the security personnel of suppressing a peaceful protest. The RPP, which is one of the key ruling coalition partners, was protesting against the removal of the terms “Hindu State” and “constitutional monarchy” from its statute by the EC.

On March 17, the EC had removed the terms “Hindu State” and “constitutional monarchy” from the statute of RPP stating that they contradict the spirit of the constitution.  Later on the day, RPP Chair Kamal Thapa, who is also a deputy prime minister and minister for local development, submitted a memorandum to the EC asking the constitutional body to rethink its move. RPP has reservations over some provisions of the constitution, but it is fully committed to following the constitution and puting it to implementation. The RPP urges the EC to rethink its March 17 decision which seeks to revise our party statute,” reads the statement. Before submitting the memorandum, RPP Chair Thapa took part in a sit-in organized by the party against the EC’s move and use of force by the police.

RPP leaders and cadres had staged a rally in the capital before converging into a mass gathering at Jamal. The situation turned violent after police tried to stop protesters from approaching the EC building. The crowd reacted by hurling stones at the security forces. In total, police fired five rounds of teargas canisters to take the situation under control. Injured Oli, and other injured were treated at Kathmandu Model Hospital. According to RPP’s assistant spokesperson Mohan Shrestha, at least 47 RPP cadres were injured.

MyRepublica

21/03/2017

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

India Government raises grant for Nepal by 17 percent

India Government raises grant for Nepal by 17 percent The Indian government has pledged to extend 17 percent more in financial aid to Nepal in the next fiscal year, indicating greater enthusiasm of the southern neighbour to support the landlocked country’s development endeavours. The Indian government has allocated a grant of IRs3.75 billion (Rs6 billion) for Nepal in 2017-18, as against IRs3.20 in 2016-17. The allocation was made through the Union Budget 2017-18 launched by Indian Finance Minister Arjun Jaitely on Wednesday.  In addition to the amount, India has also pledged to extend a grant of IRs113.30 million to Nepal Police Academy in 2017-18, the Indian budget document says. The grant pledged for Nepal in 2017-18 is second highest among South Asian countries, with Bhutan leading the pack. The Indian government has expressed commitment to extend IRs37.14 billion in grant to Bhutan in 2017-18. The amount, however, is 4 percent lower than in 2016-17. In total, Ind...
Post a Comment
Read more

UML trying to create rift between hills and Tarai: Deuba

Nepali Congress (NC) President Sher Bahadur Deuba has accused the main Opposition, the CPN-UML, of trying to create rift between the hill and Madhes communities. “The government has registered a constitution amendment bill in parliament to establish peace in Tarai-Madhes. But the UML has been obstructing the House in protest of the bill. The UML is thus trying to create a rift between the hills and the Tarai,” said Deuba. Speaking at a national gathering of Treasurers of NC in the capital on Friday, Deuba said that by obstructing the House, the UML was expressing its anger for having to quit government. “Parties form and leave government in a democracy. It is a normal process. It is not appropriate to hold the House a hostage just because you (UML) have to leave the government,” he said. Deuba also claimed that UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli had already given his nod to the kind of constitution amendment bill registered by the government. “But now he is obstructing the b...
Post a Comment
Read more

UML tells neighbors not to interfere in Nepal's internal affairs

  Main opposition CPN-UML has asked the neighboring countries and the international community to refrain from expressing gratuitous concerns over Nepal's internal affairs, taking sides and intervening into domestic issues. The second-largest party has also claimed that Nepal's political parties and the people are capable enough to handle internal issues and that Nepal is well able to steer the country in the direction of progress. “We expect goodwill of friends from across the world in favor of Nepal. But, we appeal to the neighboring countries and the international community to refrain from expressing gratuitous concerns over Nepal's internal affairs, taking sides, and intervening into domestic issues and any other such activities,” read a statement issued by party spokesman Yogesh Bhattarai after a standing committee meeting of the party on Monday. The main opposition UML, which has been leading protests in various districts and obstructing parliament procee...
Post a Comment
Read more