Prohibitory orders issued in parts of Nepal capital ahead of protests

Youth Force has announced it will challenge another protest group that will be led by Durga Prasai, a former Maoist cadre turned UML central committee member. He now coordinates a nationwide movement against corruption.

Prasai, who is also an entrepreneur, has pledged to expose the nexus between politicians and financial institutions exploiting ordinary people, and has particularly targeted UML chairperson K P Sharma Oli alleging the latter amassed vast wealth and invested in Cambodia. The government has imposed prohibitory orders in and around the Federal Parliament building, Secretariat and few other places.

A video that has gone viral shows Youth Force activists barging into the banquet hall asking the women to leave since they had come here to participate in the Prasai-led protest. The women activists pleaded for some time to ‘dress up’ but were told to be ready and get out in ten minutes.

As police identified the miscreants as Youth force activists, Oli asserted that there might be a need to resort to public intervention. The Youth Force members’ actions have been widely condemned on social media including by people sympathetic towards the UML.

Prasai said that while his movement is to seek justice for people exploited by banks and financial institutions, and have their loans waived, the lack of response from the government and political parties so far has led to public fury. “I challenge the government to go for a referendum on the issue of Monarchy vs Republic and secularism vs Hindu Nepal,” he said.

While Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ has appealed to all forces that worked together against the monarchy 18 years ago. Oli said “If there is any attempt to block the path to progress and democracy, we will remove the blockade.”

Police said it was investigating the incident that took place in the banquet and “necessary action against the guilty will be taken after that”.