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KATHMANDU: A group of Nepalis protested Prime Minister Dr. Baburam Bhattarai in New York City during a programme and greeted him with black flags on Friday.

Prime Minister Dr. Bhattarai, who is currently in New York to attend the United Nations General Assembly, was speaking at an interaction programme organised by Nepal’s Permanent Mission to the UN at Chain Federation Hall in Queens, New York City.

Four youths—identified as Bishal Shah, Bandana Koirala, Binita Nakarmi and Kunti Thapa— dared to interrupt his lecture when he was shedding light on why Nepal could not develop despite being rich in natural resources, and demonstrated black flags to the prime minister, a participant of the programme informed The Himalayan Times via email.

“I saw (black flags)… You demonstrated and I saw. Thanks for that….,” he said, trying to convince the demonstrators to let him continue his speech. “This is democracy…this can be done. Don’t worry.”

The demonstrators were apparently protesting against the government decision regarding the national dress and intimidating modus operandi of the Maoist party, shouting slogans including “We love our national dress, you cannot crush the national pride…” 

After the protestors left the hall upon the request of other participants, Dr. Bhattarai continued his speech and stressed on the need for conclusion of peace process and constitution-drafting, emphasising on the use of natural resources and human resources in the development of country.

Notwithstanding wherever they stay, he asked the Nepali Diaspora to contribute to Nepal’s development, assuring the Non-Resident Nepalis of providing with necessary facilities to invest their money in their motherland.