Strike cripples life in Nepal

With Nepal headed towards a constitutional crisis, normal life came to a standstill in the capital and major cities across the country today due to general strike called by various groups demanding early drafting of the Constitution.

The strike turned violent in several places after protesters set ablaze three vehicles, including a pick up van belonging to a news channel. Over a dozen people were arrested during the shutdown.

Nepal appeared to be sinking into a political turmoil amid the failure of the main parties to end a deadlock over the extension of the term of the parliament, which expires tomorrow.

Educational institutions and marketplaces and businesses have remained closed. There were few vehicles plying the roads.

The strike enforcers have also asked to declare Nepal as a Hindu state and not to restructure state along ethnic lines, among other things.

Chure-Bhawar Rastriya Ekta Party and other fringe parties enforced the shut down demanding early drafting of constitution and more rights and representation for their ethnic groups in the constitution.

Pro-monarchist Rastriya Prajatantra Party-Nepal also organised protest rally in different parts of the capital demanding dissolution of the Constituent Assembly and conduct a fresh election