Transport strike cripples normal life nationwide

 Added At:  2010-08-15 1:15 PM     Last Updated At: 2010-08-15 1:24 PM


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KATHMANDU: The transport strike enforced by the Nepal Federation of Indigenous Nationalities (NEFIN) has affected normal life across the country on Sunday.

NEFIN organised the transport strike to press the government to fulfill their demands including, among others, the guarantee of the rights of the indigenous nationalities in the new constitution and implementation of the past agreements reached between the indigenous body and the government.

The transport strike crippled normal life in the capital city since the morning today. People were seen walking to their workplaces as no public and private transport services were allowed to ply on the road. Shops and public marketplaces are also closed in the town.

NEFIN said it is organising a nation-wide blockade and transport strike as part of its month-long movement for securing the rights of the indigenous nationalities. It has also put forward a 20-point demand. Among other things, NEFIN has also been calling on the parties to focus on taking the peace process and the constitution-writing to logical conclusion.

The first national convention of the District Coordination Council of NEFIN held on July 7, 8 and 9 had decided to launch a month-long rights-based campaign.

Chitwan – Life in Chitwan district as well as its neighbouring districts has been affected since the morning due to the transport strike. Activists of NEFIN held demonstrations and obstructed vehicular movement at different places in Narayangadh since early morning today.

The activists have even barred rickshaws and bicycles from operating. The Narayangadh-Mugling, Hetaunda-Narayangadh and Narayangadh-Butwal sections of the highways which otherwise remain busy on normal days wore a deserted look.

Gorakha – The transport strike at the call of NEFIN has adversely affected the life of the general public here. Buses plying from here to different destinations across the country did not ply their service today. NEFIN activists assembled at different places in the district are preventing vehicles from operating.

Butwal- Normal life in Rupandehi and Palpa districts as well as neighbouring districts has been hit by the transport strike organised by NEFIN today.



Transport services in different towns and villages in Rupandehi district have been halted. As a result, people going to work are facing inconvenience travelling to different destination.

Similarly, the transport strike has affected life in the hilly districts of Gulmi, and Arghakhanchi and the Tarai districts of Kapilbastu and Nawalparasi in Lumbini Zone.

Schools, colleges and factories in Nawalparasi are closed due to the transport strike, as per a report from Kawasoti in the district. The students appearing in the School Leaving Certificate (SLC) supplementary examinations have been greatly inconvenienced due to the transport strike. They were seen walking hurriedly to the exam centres.

Itahari - Normal life in Sunsari district has been affected due to the NEFIN-called transport closure. Activists of NEFIN assembled at different places are preventing vehicles from operating, it is learnt.

Tulasipur – The transport strike at the call of NEFIN has affected normal life in Dang district. Public transport vehicles and private vehicles have stayed off the roads throughout the district due to the strike, it is learnt.

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