Anti-federal party enforces general shut down in Nepal capital

A fringe political party that has been opposing the idea of federalism, enforced general shut down in the capital city Kathmandu on Sunday.

Normal life in the capital city was thrown out of gear as the cadres of Rastriya Jana Morcha (RJM) obstructed vehicular movement and forcibly shut down businesses, academic institutions and marketplaces.

The agitating RJM cadres also vandalized a few vehicles plying in the streets for defying their strike organized to exert pressure on majo political parties to withdraw their decision to embrace federalism, according to police. Only a few two-wheelers could be seen plying in the capital's streets on Sunday.

Local administrations in Kathmandu, Lalitpur and Bhaktapur districts had deputed a large number of police personnel to avoid any untoward incident in course of the general shut down.
The RJM argues that the federalism based on ethnic line would eventually lead the country to secession. The party has suggested other parties to adopt measures of decentralization of power rather than embracing federalism.

Earlier on Saturday evening, the RJM staged torch rally in Kathmandu as a symbolic protest against the decision of major political parties to go for federalism.

The RJM protest comes in the wake of some senior leaders arguing that referendum must be held before taking decision to go to federalism.

RJM is only party among 24 political parties representing in the Constituent Assembly that is against the federalism. In recent days, the party has been able to garner huge support for the cause as most people are seen against federalism based in the ethnic line.

This is the second strike in the capital city Kathmandu after the one organized by UCPN (Maoist) on January 1, 2010.

- Asian Tribune -