Allow government to function, says Sitaula

Kathmandu, July 11:

Home Minister Krishna Prasad Sitaula today asked all concerned not to disrupt the smooth functioning of the government by staging protests and sit-ins in the areas that have been declared prohibited by the local administration.

“If anyone continues to stage sit-in or create obstruction in the gates of Singha Durbar, the government cannot function,” Sitaula told the Parliament after the members of the CPN-Maoist disrupted the House this morning following the arrest of Padma Lal Biswokarma, MP of the Maoists, by the police while he was accompanying a sit-in in front of the Southern gate of Singha Durbar. “Please allow the government to function well,” he urged the parties.

“Singha Durbar is a central secretariat and such obstructions should not be made,” Sitaula said in a strict tone. “I must thank the police for making the arrest,” he said. He suggested the protesters to stage protests in the Mandala of Maitighar or some other area which are not prohibited for protests.

The police had arrested some 22 people, mainly Dalits, including Biswokarma from the Southern gate of Singha Durbar. Sitaula urged all sections of the society to cooperate with the government to maintain law and order situation to accomplish constituent assembly elections. “Let us all give up strikes, bandhs and protests and concentrate on CA polls,” he said.