Kathmandu, Dec 28: Anti-Hrithik Roshan protests took a serious political turn today with half of 113 ruling Nepalese Congress MPs revolting against Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala filing a no-confidence motion against him in the party."We were compelled to file the motion seeking Koirala's ouster to prevent the country from plunging into a crisis and save the country, democracy and restore peace and security," Sher Bahadur Deuba, leader of the dissident group, told reporters after 57 rebel MPs appended their signature to the motion.The dissidents are believed to be one MP short in their campaign against the Prime Minister who has been in the office since March. The party, which has a majority in the 205-Member lower house of Parliament, is expected to call a meeting of MPs within 15 days to settle the leadership issue.The revolt came as a general strike called by the Left-wing student groups paralysed life in the Nepalese capital today with schools, colleges, businesses shut down for the second day today.An AFP report quoting Deuba said the 57 dissident MPs would be joined by three state ministers who resigned from the government today.Deuba has publicly criticised Koirala, who is also the Nepalese Congress President, for failing to keep campaign promises to maintain law and order, check rampant administrative corruption and control inflation.Koirala's opponents claimed that they have the support of Krishna Bhattarai, the previous Prime Minister who was ousted through similar no-confidence motion."Koirala had removed Bhattarai, accusing him of failing to control the Maoist insurgency. Instead, the problem has worsened about 10 times and there is no such thing as good governance anymore," Deuba said.Kathmandu was nearly deserted, with only a few people on the streets.The row began on Tuesday, when rumours swept through Nepalese towns bordering India claiming that Hindi film star Hrithik Roshan told a television interviewer that he hated Nepal and its people. The 26-year-old actor, however, has denied making such remarks.On Tuesday, police shot and killed four people while trying to contain a rampaging crowd that attacked shops and a theatre screening Roshan's latest movie, "Mission Kashmir." Some 180 people were injured, including 30 police officers.Anti-India sentiments simmer in Nepal. The country, which is dependent on its larger neighbour for many of its economic needs, often accuses India of being a regional bully.Yesterday, thousands of protesters clashed with police and blocked streets with burning tires and trees in Kathmandu. Indian businesses were targetted and windows at the State Bank of India were smashed by protesters shouting slogans against Roshan and India.
