After the failure to come up with a consensus prime ministerial candidate as called by the president, opposition parties had earlier this week announced 20-day protests aimed at unseating the present government. They had also announced to start the protests from Dailekh.[break]
Stating that the opposition parties chose to start their protests from Dailekh to support the locals in their fight for justice, the leaders claimed that the movement would soon unseat the Baburam Bhattarai-led government.
They claimed that this time the anti-government protests would turn into a mass movement. "Baburam Bhattarai is clinging to the power even as he is no more a legitimate prime minister," Nepali Congress leader Ram Sharan Mahat told the mass gathering.
"The prime minister is so shameless that he is not ready to quit the government even after the president issued several deadlines for the formation of a new government."
Mahat claimed that Bhattarai dissolved the Constituent Assembly with a plan to capture state powers.
He also came down heavily on the prime minister for obstructing probe into the murder of journalist Thapa, who was mercilessly killed some eight years ago.
"The prime minister ordered a police officer to stop investigation into the murder case even as Dekendra´s killing has nothing to do with the conflict. This is absolutely irresponsible," said Mahat.
CPN-UML Vice-Chairman Bamdev Gautam came down heavily on the prime minister saying that the latter was making a mockery of the rule of law by interfering in the investigation into Thapa´s murder.
"Police, officials in judiciary, media, civil society and political parties working here in Dailekh have been internationally hailed for their bravery in fighting for justice. This has inspired us to launch our movement from this district," said Gautam.
Also, leaders from other opposition parties, including Rastriya Janamorcha, CPN (Samyukta), Rastriya Prajatantra Party and CPN-ML, addressed the gathering.
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