KATHMANDU, Jan 27: The Dahal-Nepal faction of the ruling Nepal Communist Party staged a sit-in protest at Maitighar Mandala in the capital on Wednesday.
Parliamentarians of the dissolved House of Representatives and provincial assembly members belonging to the Dahal-Nepal faction of NCP took to the streets against the dissolution of parliament.
Haribol Gajurel, a leader participating in the sit-in protest, said that they are forced to take to the streets against the government's unconstitutional act of dissolving parliament. "Our ongoing agitation is to protect the constitution," he said.
In Photos: Mahabir Pun stages a sit-in protest at Maitighar
The rival faction of the NCP led by Pushpa Kamal Dahal and Madhav Kumar Nepal has been holding a series of protests across the country in recent weeks against the dissolution of parliament. The party faction has accused the Oli-led government of plunging the country into political uncertainty. The party faction will continue the sit-in at the Maitighar Mandala until February 3.
On January 25, the party faction announced its third phase of agitation against the dissolution of parliament. The third phase of agitation which started on Monday will run for 15 days.
According to Narayan Kaji Shrestha, who is also the coordinator of a struggle committee formed by the party faction to intensify protests, said that they will organize a mass gathering in the capital on February 10 against the government's decision to dissolve the parliament. On Tuesday, the party faction held a whistle rally.
The party faction is organizing a public ceremony to pay homage to martyrs on January 29; a youth rally will be conducted in Kathmandu on February 4 and a torch rally on February 8. The party will stage mass gatherings in Butwal, Pokhara and Dhangadhi on January 28, 29 and 30 respectively.
During its two-week-long agitation, the party faction will hold interactions with people from various walks of life. Shrestha said that they will also organize mass gatherings in provincial headquarters.
