Agitating Parties in Nepal announce two-day general strike

Kathmandu, May 01: Intensifying their pro-democracy stir, the five major political parties that have launched anti-monarchy agitation today announced a two-day general strike in the country this month. The five political parties, which rejected king Gyanendra's offer for talks, have decided to intensify the agitation to press the king to form an all-party government and return sovereign and state authorities to the people, party sources said. A joint meeting of the five-party alliance yesterday decided to call for a complete strike on may 11 and 12 in educational institutions, government offices, industries, public organizations, all types of business activities and vehicular movement, the sources said.
The meeting was attended by leaders of Nepali Congress, Nepal Communist Party-UML, Nepal Workers' and Peasants' Party, Sadbhavana Party and Janamorcha Nepal.

They have also asked for a withdrawal of the government's decision restricting any protest or public meeting in Kathmandu.

The agitating parties have made it clear that until the king is ready to hold sincere and serious dialogue on the issues raised by them there is no point in meeting him.

Meanwhile, sit-ins and protests continued in various parts of the capital as the agitation entered its 31st day today. Bureau Report