Nepali Congress leaders, student activists court arrest

Himalayan News Service

Kathmandu, March 27:

The first batch of Nepali Congress (NC) stalwarts, who drew up their own set of protest programmes on March 11, courted arrest today as part of the planned agitation for the restoration of the House of Representatives. Those who courted arrest comprise Mahadev Gurung, Puskar Nath Ojha, Chitra Bahadur Karki, Dan Bahadur Bania, Jagat Bahadur Joshi, Bala Bahadur Kunwar and Purna Bahadur Dhakal. A section of leaders associated with the BP Thought Academy have long been stressing on the need to retain the identity of the party by launching a movement on its own strength. They insisted that concerted moves to derail democracy go back to the day when the House of Representatives was dramatically dissolved on May 22, 2002. They said the royal move of October 2, 2002 and February 1 last are a violation of the understanding reached between political parties and the institution of monarchy.

Meanwhile, police today arrested student leaders belonging to the All Nepal National Free Students’ Union (ANNFSU) from the Ratna Rajya Laxmi campus premises. Those arrested include Urmila Karki, Devi Basnet, Bhavanath Ghimire, Ajay Khanal, Rajesh Prasai and Subhas Thapa. They were arrested while holding a corner meeting. The Jana Morcha Nepal (JMN) today issued a call to all to take to the streets tomorrow and on April 6 as part of the fight against continued regression. The party has also flayed detention of its leaders while their health is deteriorating.