The leaders from the agitating opposition parties including Nepali Congress (NC) and CPN-UML instructed their party cadres to be prepared for the "stringent form of agitation" against the ruling coalition.[break]
The leaders addressing a protest rally in Pokhara said they urged UCPN (Maoist) leaders to correct themselves or else face the fate of former King Gyanendra Shah.
"We have to compel the Maoists to come to democratic political course with the force of a powerful agitation and you all need to be prepared for this because we may have to resort to stringent form of movement for the purpose," former Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal said in the mass gathering participated by thousands of demonstrators. He said they wanted to motivate UCPN (Maoist) to be a democratic, accountable and responsible political party.
PHOTO: SANTOSH POKHAREL
"If the Maoists are not ready to correct themselves they are certain to face the fate of King Gyanendra, whom we had deposed," said Senior CPN-UML leader Nepal. He claimed that UCPN (Maoist) Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal had shown similar nature of untrustworthyness and aspires to be an autocrat just like former king Gyanendra Shah. "He is very deceitful so we can´t trust any of his promises because he comes up with another proposal within hours," he said.
Addressing the same rally, NC Vice-president Ram Chandra Paudel said the ongoing agitation of the opposition parties was for ending violence. "Those who believe in the politics of arms never work for people. Therefore, it is high time that we defeat those who believe in the power of bullet," said Paudel. "The ongoing movement wants to be decisive."
He challenged the Maoist leaders not to undermine the power of peaceful demonstrations.
Stating that the present ruling coalition was acting as an autocratic force, Paudel said the opposition parties would not be deterred by any challenges to be faced during the agitation.
PHOTO: SANTOSH POKHAREL
He accused the present government of promoting rampant corruption, impunity and culture of violence in the country.
Rastriya Prajatantra Party Chairman Pashupati Shumshere JB Rana claimed that they had to resort to street protests as the present government obstructed political consensus. He argued that the prime minister and ruling leaders were lying to the people by saying that they are holding fresh CA election in the coming spring.
"The Election Commission has already said that it is not possible to hold elections in May due to political and constitutional complications but the prime minister is blatantly lying to the people," said Rana. "It is very clear that the present government neither wants to hold elections nor does it paves the way for formation of consensus government."
Also, Shankar Baral of Rastriya Janamorcha, Sunil Manandhar of CPN (Samyukta) and Gopalmani Gautam of CPN (ML), among others, addressed the rally.
PHOTO: SANTOSH POKHAREL
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