Thousands march against Nepal PM's dissolution of parliament (updated)
29/12/2020 11:51
(Adds details, quotes)
By Gopal Sharma
KATHMANDU, Dec 29 (Reuters) - Thousands of opponents of
Nepal's Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli marched through the
streets of Kathmandu on Tuesday urging him to reverse his
decision to dissolve parliament and call for early elections.
The protesters, who say his decision on Dec. 20 was
unconstitutional, rallied outside his office despite coronavirus
curbs on gatherings. urn:newsml:reuters.com:*:nL1N2J003N
Oli says internal squabbling and a lack of cooperation from
his party have paralysed decision-making, forcing him to seek a
new popular mandate.
Police officials overseeing security said at least 10,000
people were on the streets to participate in the march, one of
the most intense protests the country has witnessed since Oli
dissolved parliament.
"We have tactfully managed the rally of about 10,000
protesters," said Basanta Bahadur Kunwar, a police spokesman.
The country's top court will in January continue hearing
dozens of petitions filed against Oli's political move and his
plans to press ahead with parliamentary elections next year on
April 30 and May 10, less than two years before the scheduled
date.
"The prime minister has no authority to dissolve the
parliament under the constitution. Therefore, he should reverse
his decision immediately," said 19-year-old student Rajesh
Thapa, waving a flag with a red hammer and sickle printed on it,
a symbol of the ruling Communist party.
(Writing by Rupam Jain, Editing by Andrew Heavens and Ed
Osmond)
((Rupam.Jain@thomsonreuters.com; +91 7042133028;))