Strike partially affect life in Nepal over federalism

Nepalese police have arrested over 30 people as demonstrators today tried to enforce another nation-wide strike against the proposed seven state federal solution in the draft constitution.
"We have arrested 30 demonstrators in Kathmandu for trying to block roads, vandalise vehicles and close shops," a police spokesperson said.
Schools and colleges were closed, markets remained partially shut and vehicular movement was thin in the capital city as supporters of the Nepal Federation of Indigenous Nationality (NEFIN) enforced general strike to press their demands for more rights and representation in the new constitution.
They were also protesting the proposed borders of the new federal units in Nepal, which they say, discriminate against the historically marginalised communities, including the Madhesis and Tharus.

NEFIN has also demanded delineating the federal states on the basis of ethnic identity and formation of an ethnic commission.
So far, three people have died in clashes between police and the protesters during the last two weeks.

Earlier this month, major parties in Nepal struck a breakthrough deal to carve the country into six provinces in a new constitution.
Today's strike comes just two days after political parties in Nepal agreed on a seven province model of federal system to be incorporated in the new constitution.
However, the addition of a seventh province has failed to appease marginalised communities.

Prime Minister Sushil Koirala has appealed to the agitating Madhesi parties to sit for dialogue to resolve the current deadlock over incorporating an appropriate federal model in the new constitution.
Nepal began working on a new constitution in 2008, two years after the end of a decade-long Maoist insurgency that ended the centuries-old Hindu monarchy in the country.