Opposition strike shuts down Nepal

The strike was enforced to pressurise the government for ethnic identity-based federalism in the new Constitution

Normal life was palalysed in Nepal as opposition protesters clashed with police during a nationwide strike enforced by 19-party alliance to pressurise the government for ethnic identity-based federalism in the new Constitution.

Major markets were closed, educational institutions were shut down and vehicular movement came to a halt during the strike in Kathmandu and other major cities.

The agitators burnt a taxi in Koteshwor area of Kathmandu for defying the bandh.

Protesters and police clashed in the capital, Kathmandu on the first day of the three-day strike. Riot police fired tear gas shells, while the protesters retaliated by throwing stones.

In Pokhara, the tourist hub of western Nepal, the police arrested 4 protesters for their involvement in vandalism.

The strike was backed by the UCPN-Maoist, Madhesi Front and some fringe ethnic-based parties.

They have opposed the government's move to promulgate the Constitution through voting process, demanding consensus on the key issues such as federalism and forms of governance.

The ruling coalition has been attempting to get the draft approved through a vote in parliament after negotiations failed with the opposition.