Thousands protest against govt in capital (Photo Feature)

KATHMANDU, June 11: Thousands of youths took to the street and demonstrated in front of Prime Minister’s official residence in Baluwatar and Bhatbhatini in Naxal on Thursday protesting the government’s poor handling of the COVID-19 pandemic.

They have demanded the government to stop rapid Rapid Diagnostic Test and widen the use of PCR testing, improve quarantine conditions and ensure transparency and furnish details of Rs 10 billion the government has spent on the pandemic response.

The government has been hugely criticized after Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli on Wednesday refused to respond to lawmakers’ query regarding the transparency of funds used in the fight against the pandemic.

Police baton charged and used water cannons to disperse the protestors and detained a number of youths.

They had also staged a peaceful demonstration in Baluwatar two days ago.

Anti-government protests have also emerged in Pokhara and Biratnagar.

Here are some photos of demonstration from Naxal captured by Reporters’ Club photo journalist Mukunda Kalikote.