Himalayan News Service

Kathmandu, March 13:

Seven student unions today took out rallies in various parts of the Valley to protest the February 1 royal takeover. Basu Koirala, general secretary of the Nepal Students’ Union (NSU), and three other student leaders were arrested from Maitidevi. However, the mass of people was not as big as was expected after the announcement of the Nepali Congress and CPN-UML of courting arrest for protesting rather than remaining underground. The demonstrators took out rallies at Kirtipur, Patan, Bhaktapur, Thahachal and Maitidevi, but they were arrested in no time. “We are preparing for tomorrow’s rally called by the five parties and for the March 17 protest rally called by their youth wings,” said Pradip Poudel, vice-president of the NSU.