The committee organized the general strike calling for provisions of Nepal as a federal republic in the new constitution that ensures ethnic identity. [break]
It said the shutdown was oganized in line with the decision of the round-table conference of Tharus held in Chitwan that called for guaranteeing federal units preserving the Tharu identity.
The Tharu people have been calling for establishing Tharuwan Tharuhat Autonomous Province from Chitwan to Kanchanpur district in the west, the East Tharuwan/Tharuhat Kohila Autonomous Province from Siraha district to Jhapa district in the east and the Madhya Tarai Simraungadh Autonomous Province from Parsa district to Dhanusha district.
The shutdown has total impact in east Chitwan, an area predominantly populated by Tharu people. However, few vehicles are operating in Bharatpur, the district headquarters.
Public transport, educational institutions, market, factories and businesses are closed. President of the Tharu Kalyankarini Sabha Chitwan district chapter, one of the Tharu organizations, enforcing the general strike, Bishram Mahato, said the banda would be peaceful.
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