The cadres of the hardline faction shouted slogans against Bhattarai at the airport entrance protesting the signing of the Bilateral Investment Protection Agreement (BIPA) with India, which they said is against the national interest.[break]
The party hard-line faction has stated that they were compelled to wave black flags at Bhattarai demanding his resignation. “The prime minister violated the party´s directive to not sign any treaty during his India visit. We strongly demand that the agreement be scrapped,” said Maoist leader Khadga Bahadur Bishwakarma. He also claimed that Bhattarai must have made other verbal agreements of great significance with India.
Bishwakarma, who is close to Senior Vice-chairman Mohan Baidya, said the hard-line faction would raise the issue at the party meetings. Leaders from the hard-line faction said the party cadres spontaneously came out on the street waving black flags.
However, the party establishment has stated that the recent “anarchic activities”, including this episode, is a bargaining ploy of the hardline faction for power-sharing in the party.
“The deal is not against the country´s interests as is being rumored. It is just a bargaining ploy for power sharing in the party and in the government,” said Haribol Gajurel who is close to Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal. He termed the waving of black flags anarchic.
Earlier, the Maoist sister organizations close to the hard-line camp had decided to greet the prime minister with black flags. The cadres from one United People´s Front also joined the protest.
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