Kathmandu, Jan 31: The five political parties, which have launched a movement in Nepal against monarchy, have called for a strike in the valley on Monday. They will also hold a demonstration here today, besides the bandh in the three districts of Kathmandu on Monday to protest the security personnel's interference in yesterday agitation.
All the markets in Kathmandu, Bhaktapur and Lalitpur will remain closed, the five parties said in a statement issued late last night.
Security personnel intervened in the demonstration by the protesting parties on the occasion of Martyrs' Day yesterday, detaining 26 senior leaders. Dozens were injured when police used water canons, batons and tear gas shells to disperse the agitators raising anti-monarchy slogans.
The Nepali Congress, Peoples Front Nepal, Nepal Workers and Peasants' Party (NWPP), Nepal Sadbhawana Party-Anandi Devi (NSP) and CPN-UML, agitating against King Gyanendra's unconstitutional takeover, have been pressing for restoration of democracy in the insurgency-ridden Himalayan kingdom. Bureau Report