Nepal PM asks Prachanda to shun violent activities

Kathmandu, Dec 22 (ANI): Nepal Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal has asked UCPN (Maoist) Chairman Prachanda to shun violence.

According to Kantipur, the Prime Minister had telephoned Prachanda twice after he returned from Copenhagen and warned him that if the Maoists continued with violent agitation, it could invite serious ramifications.

Meanwhile, the three-day nationwide general strike called by the Maoists is concluding today with a mass gathering in various places across the country.

Maoist senior leaders including Prachandal will address the mass assembly at Baneshwar. ccording to Maoist spokesperson Krishna Bahadur Mahara, the standing committee will meet on Wednesday morning to decide the programmes for next phase of the agitation. he impact of shutdown is seen throughout the country with vehicles off the road and markets and offices shut on Tuesday too.

Earlier, Maoist Vice-chairman Dr. Baburam Bhattarai reiterated that conspiracies are on to dissolve the Constituent Assembly (CA) on the backing of invisible forces.

Addressing a mass meeting in New Baneshwor on Monday, he warned that if the government resorts to excessive force against the demonstrators then the Maoist activists will be compelled to retaliate.

Dr Bhattarai claimed that the people have taken to the streets as the current government has gone against the aspirations of the people and the Constituent Assembly.

This is the third strike called by the former rebels within a month, demanding restoration of "civilian supremacy" and rectification of President Ram Baran Yadav's move to reinstate the then army chief Rukmangad Katwal that had led to the fall of the Maoist Government. (ANI)