Himalayan News Service

Kathmandu, May 7:

The Nirmaya Rodhi Club has condemned the police for ‘interrogating’ the club employees and its guests last Sunday.

The club organised a press conference here today, and claimed that the police were harassing the people, who were working for the preservation and promotion of folk culture.

President of the club, Ramesh Babu Shrestha, said some 83 employees, artistes and a few guests were detained by the police and kept at various ward police stations of the Valley.

They were released at around 2 p.m. the other day.

When other restaurants and discos, which promote western culture, are running their

businesses throughout the night, the government is suppressing the ones that are helping promote our folk culture, Shrestha said.

He went on to say that the police had detained them for opening the club till 11p.m. — one hour later than the usual time.

The police had also accused the club owners and employees of putting up vulgar dances.

Shrestha further said that the club had lost around half-a-million rupees ever since the government enforced a strict rule to close all restaurants that were putting up folk duet songs to its guests by 10 p.m.

He also claimed that the club had never ever resorted to vulgarity at any time.