KATHMANDU, Dec 19: Jhala Nath Khanal, chairman of ruling CPN-UML, on Saturday requested UCPN (Maoist) Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal to withdraw the three-day nationwide strike. [break]
In a meeting between the two leaders at the UCPN (Maoist) central office at Paris Danda, in Kathmandu on Saturday Dahal told Khanal that he would put the issue in the Maoist standing committee meeting scheduled for late Saturday afternoon.
Khanal, who went to Maoist office along with Home Minister Bhim Rawal, urged Dahal to sit in a meeting of top leaders – including Nepali Congress President Girija Prasad Koirala – to reach a political consensus.
Khanal told him that since there is no bigger difference among the parties, the consensus is likely.
UCPN (Maoist) has called a three-day nationwide general strike starting Sunday.
Withdrawal call ploy to weaken our protest: Maoist spokesperson
Meanwhile, Dinanath Sharma, spokesperson of the Maoist party, told reporters that the call for withdrawal of their three-day strike was a ploy to weaken their agitation for "civilian supremacy". "We will not accede to the request," Sharma said, making a brief appearance to speak to mediapersons while his party´s standing committee was going on. "Hence the strike will go ahead."
Sharma further said that the meeting will discuss strategy to make the general strike a success and will assign roles to party leaders with that goal in mind.