Maoist model sparks protest in Far-west

HIMALAYAN NEWS SERVICE

DHADING: Normal life was severally affected today in different districts of the Far-West region due to indefinite bandh called by the Far-West Ekata Samaj and the Samyukta Loktantrik Paribesh.

Ekata Samaj and Paribesh enforced indefinite shutdown in protest of the UCPN-Maoist proposal to divide some parts of Kanchanpur and Kailali and include them in Tharuwan state.

Buses of long and short routes stayed off the roads in the Far-West due to the strike. Marketplaces, businesses, educational institutions also downed their shutters.

Far-West Jagaran Manch has expressed solidarity with the bandh. In a press release, Samyukta Loktantrik Paribesh had appealed to the general public to make the indefinite strike a success. Paribesh activists descended on the streets of Seti and Mahakali Zones and shouted slogans against the secession of the Far-West.

In Kanchanpur, an-all party meeting took the decision to support the agitation for the undivided Far-West region. NC Kanchanpur District secretary said that the meeting had decided to form struggle committee and launch protest for a united region. UCPN-Maoist representative had also showed up at the meeting.

Manaskhanda Kranti Dal has expressed solidarity with the indefinite strike. Issuing a press release, general secretary of Kranti Dal Hiraballav Nepali warned to launch stern agitation if the Far-West was divided.

CPN-UML Bajhang also demanded that the Far-West be kept undivided. Bajhang UML chairman Arjun Thapa accused that Maoist chairman Dahal’s 10-state proposal had played with sentiments of Far-West residents.