Maoists stress on the need to form republican front

CPN-Maoist leader Dev Gurung called on Nepali Congress to join the republican front to prove that it is a genuine democratic force.

Nepal's Maoists have insisted on the need to form a republican front to abolish monarchy but assured that their stance on the position of the king will not disrupt the ongoing peace talks with the government.

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CPN-Maoist leader and talks team member Dev Gurung called on Nepali Congress to join the republican front to prove that it is a genuine democratic force.

Democracy and monarchy cannot go hand in hand, so the latter must be removed, he said at an interaction programme on Wednesday.

Gurung, however, said that NC's stance on monarchy would not disrupt the ongoing peace talks, which are already near a consensus.

He said that arms management is not a hurdle in moving ahead with the peace talks, adding the Maoists army will remain in the cantonment in the initial stages and will merge with the Nepalese Army to form the national army.

Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala has already rejected the Maoists' proposal to form a republican forum against the monarchy.

Meanwhile, CPN-UML general secretary Madhav Nepal said, the Summit Talks between Seven Party Alliance and the Maoist leadership, which were postponed due to festival holidays, would be held by Sunday.

The Maoists' army should be kept in the cantonment before the constituent assembly polls and they must be ready to separate their army with the arms, he said.