Maoists reject Nepal PM’s call to ‘Prachanda for talks

Opposition Maoists in Nepal who are agitating to remove the government on Sunday rejected an invitation by Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal to resolve the ongoing political deadlock through talks, reports Utpal Parashar.

Updated on: May 9, 2010, 23:15:01 IST

Hindustan Times | By Utpal Parashar, Kathmandu

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Opposition Maoists in Nepal who are agitating to remove the government on Sunday rejected an invitation by Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal to resolve the ongoing political deadlock through talks.

The standing committee of UCPN (Maoist) stuck to their previous demand that the Prime Minister should resign first to make way for talks and consensus on formation of a national unity government.

“There will be no talks till the Prime Minister resigns. He should resign first to create a conducive atmosphere for talks,” said Maoist spokesperson Dina Nath Sharma after the standing committee meeting.

Earlier in the day, Nepal had sent a letter to Maoist chief Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ thanking him for withdrawing the indefinite strike and inviting him for talks to resolve all issues.

“It would not be right to head towards confrontation at this critical juncture. I would urge you to come for talks,” the Prime Minister wrote.

On Sunday morning a dozen persons including three policemen were injured in clashes during a blockade of Singha Durbar—the seat of Nepal government—by thousands Maoist cadres.

The incident occurred when policemen tried to stop Maoist supporters from marching towards Singha Durbar violating prohibitory orders. A senior police officer and a journalist were also injured.

The clash broke out after Maoist cadres beat up a person alleging that he was a vigilante. Police had to fire several tear gas shells to disperse the stone-pelting mob and bring the situation under control.

Besides Singha Durbar, Maoists also picketed outside district offices across Nepal bringing administrative work to a halt.

Since calling off its indefinite strike on Friday, Nepal’s main opposition party, UCPN (Maoist), has announced its decision to continue its agitation to remove the government in a different manner.

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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