The Maoists boycotted the meeting alleging that Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal did not give reply in the House over the issues raised by UCPN (Maoist) deputy parliamentary party leader Narayankaji Shrestha on Sunday. Speaker Subas Nembang had on Sunday instructed the prime minister to furnish reply in the parliament Monday. [break]
Shrestha had sought the prime minister´s clarification in the house over the latter´s warning to relegate the Maoists to the status of LTTE and the government´s official position on the reported remarks made by Indian army chief Deepak Kapoor that group integration of the Maoist combatants in the national army should not be allowed. The Maoists also alleged that the government recently imported a large amount of arms and ammunition from India.
"We had demanded that the prime minister clarify to the House about his statement to relegate the Maoists to the status of LTTE (of Sri Lanka) and the government´s stance on the Indian Army chief´s remarks against the integration of the Maoist combatants into the Nepal Army," said Maoist lawmaker Dev Gurung, addressing the House meeting. "We are boycotting the meeting as the prime minister is not speaking today."
Prime Minister Nepal had reached the parliament and spoken to Maoists. But he left the House without addressing the meeting.
Sources said the prime minister chose not to speak in the House as the Maoists demanded he inform them beforehand about the content of his address.
Soon after the Maoist lawmakers announced to boycott the meeting, Speaker Subas Nembang announced that the House will be adjourned till 4:30 p.m. Thursday.
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