Maoist strike halts Nepal for second consecutive day

Normal life remained affected and stray incidents of violence marked second day of the indefinite strike called by opposition Maoists in Nepal, reports Utpal Parashar.

Updated on: May 3, 2010, 16:10:21 IST

Hindustan Times | By Utpal Parashar, Kathmandu

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Normal life remained affected and stray incidents of violence marked second day of the indefinite strike called by opposition Maoists in Nepal.

In a bid to prevent the crisis from precipitating further, leaders of political parties held several meetings on Monday as well. But no end to impasse is in sight.

The Maoist strike is aimed at removing the government and setting up a national unity government to ensure that the peace and constitution drafting processes get completed before the May 28 deadline.

Two persons including a three-year-old child were injured in the tourist town of Pokhara when UCPN (Maoist) supporters forcibly closed a pharmacy. Maoist cadres also damaged property of a bank in Butwal.

In Kathmandu streets remained deserted as vehicles stayed off roads and shops and business establishments downed shutters. Police remained vigilant at places where Maoists held demonstrations.

After tripartite meetings failed to end the deadlock on Sunday, leaders of ruling Nepali Congress and CPN (UML) and opposition UCPN (M) remained busy in bilateral meetings on Monday.

UCPN (M) chief Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ met NC parliamentary party leader Ram Chandra Poudel in the morning, followed by another at CPN (UML) chief Jhalanath Khanal’s residence.

He also met several other NC leaders later in the day. Leaders of the three major parties will again meet on Tuesday to try and arrive at a consensus.

Maoists are demanding Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal’s resignation as a pre-condition to call of the strike while the ruling parties want the main opposition to end the strike before agreeing to any demand.

The talks centre on constitution of a national unity government, power sharing, integration of former Maoist rebels in the Nepal Army and extension of tenure of the constituent assembly.

Another meeting of the 10 major parties in the ruling coalition held at the Prime Minister’s residence reiterated support to the government and asked Madhav Kumar Nepal not to quit office.

“The Prime Minister should not bow down to the Maoist demand and resign,” said NC parliamentary party leader Ram Chandra Poudel.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Utpal Parashar
A seasoned senior journalist, I have nearly three decades of experience across print, digital, and online platforms, covering political transitions, insurgencies, environmental issues, and development stories in India and Nepal. I am skilled in breaking news, leading editorial teams and launch of newspaper editions. I am adept at leveraging digital trends and social media to expand global reach, with a strong ethical foundation and a reputation for impactful journalism. An alumnus of Asian College of Journalism, I joined Hindustan Times in New Delhi as a trainee reporter in May 1997. Over the years, I have been posted in Dehradun, Kathmandu (Nepal) and Guwahati. Currently, as Senior Assistant Editor at Hindustan Times, I lead a team reporting on India’s northeastern states. My work involves in-depth analysis, and engaging multimedia storytelling across formats, including text, photo, video, and interactive content. I am skilled in producing timely, shareable content, leveraging digital platforms and social media to engage global audiences. Throughout my career with the Hindustan Times, I have led diverse editorial teams, designed capacity-building activities, and supported reporters in developing strong story ideas, ethical reporting practices, digital skills, and fact-checking techniques. As Senior Assistant Editor for Northeast India, I have been responsible for guiding correspondents through complex political, humanitarian, and community-level stories using multimedia formats. Earlier, as Foreign Correspondent in Nepal, I produced extensive reporting during Nepal’s democratic transition and the 2015 earthquake and its aftermath.Read More

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