Normal life came to a standstill today in Nepal’s capital and eastern parts of the country due to a strike called by 33-party alliance led by CPN-Maoist to postpone the November 19 election.
Owing to the strike, transportation service has come to a grinding halt and academic institutions, major markets, and most of the factories have been shutdown in Kathmandu, Lalitpur and Bhaktapur districts of Kathmandu valley and about a dozen districts in eastern Nepal.
However, tourist buses, ambulances and vehicles belonging to the press were allowed to operate during the strike.
Cadres of the agitating groups have been demonstrating in different nooks and corners of the valley to enforce the shutdown.
Besides Kathmandu valley, the strike was also felt in Ilam, Paanchthar, Taplejung, Tehrathum, Dhankuta, Sankhuwasabha, Bhojpur, Khotang, Solukhumbu, Okhaldhunga, Udayapur, Jhapa, Morang and Sunsari districts.
CPN-Maoist and fringe parties are demanding an all party round table meeting to discuss the contentious issues and defer the election date.
Security has been stepped up in different places in the capital to avert possible untoward incidents.