Nepal's commerce minister arrested

The minister was arrested for staging a demonstration in front of the Election Commission along with his supporters, reports Anirban Roy.

Nepal's Commerce minister Rajendra Mahato was arrested on Saturday for staging a demonstration in front of the Election Commission along with his supporters. They were protesting against the Election Commission decision to recognise the Anandi Devi Singh-led faction of the party.

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It is for the first time that a minister has been arrested in Nepal after restoration of democracy in the Himalayan nation. Earlier in the day, Mahato quit the interim Koirala government.

However, Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala has not accepted his resignation as yet. In addition to the minister, over three dozen leaders of the party, including Laxman Lal Karna, Sarita Giri and Anil Kumar Jha, were arrested along with Mahto.