Kathmandu, April 17:

The doctors’ and nurses’ associations are planning to announce various civil disobedience programmes within a few days, such as not paying taxes of any medical campus, nursing home or private hospitals as a preliminary step in their show of solidarity with the ongoing movement.

Dr Kiran Shrestha, general secretary of the Nepal Medical Association (NMA) said except for the emergency department they would bring the hospital to a standstill for an hour on the first day and increasing the number of hours of “halt work” each day in the days to follow.

“As soon as our meeting is held, we will announce these protest programmes,” said Dr Shrestha. “Eventually, we also will come out on the streets against the autocratic regime,” he added. Dr Shrestha said that the doctors and medical professionals would not back off though the government had demanded clarification from medical professionals for participating in the movement.

Around eight association, including Nepal Ayurvedic Doctors’ Association, Nepal Health Workers Association and Nepal Paramedic Association and Nepal Nursing Association are planning to support the movement.

The health ministry had demanded that Dr Sudha Sharma, president of NMA, submit a clarification about the active participation today of association members in the ongoing movement.

Meanwhile, the protestors today vandalised a government vehicle at Anamnagar this evening. The ANNFSU took out a torch rally from New Baneshwor to Minbh-awan in support of people’s democratic movement.