Maoists withdraw strike, continue to target PM

Opposition Maoists in Nepal called off their proposed countrywide strike on Monday following a government decision to scrap the contract with India on supply of machine readable passports.

Updated on: Apr 12, 2010, 15:21:12 IST

Hindustan Times | By Utpal Parashar, Kathmandu

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Opposition Maoists in Nepal called off their proposed countrywide strike on Monday following a government decision to scrap the contract with India on supply of machine readable passports (MRPs).

The move came after the Madhav Kumar Nepal government decided late on Sunday evening to revoke the deal due to political pressure and questions raised by Public Accounts Committee on the manner in which the contract was awarded.

“The main reason for the strike was to protest the MRP deal with India. Since it has been scrapped, we called off the strike,” said Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’, chairman, UCPN (Maoist).

He, however, stated that the parties would continue to press for the Prime Minister’s resignation and keep agitating for formation of a national government for timely completion of the constitution drafting process.

Maoists have taken umbrage at a letter written by Indian Ambassador to Nepal Rakesh Sood to Foreign Minister Sujata Koirala in December suggesting that awarding of MRP contract to India would help address security concerns in the Indo-Nepal border.

Since the foreign ministry cancelled bids by other companies to supply nearly four million MRPs and decided to award the contract to the Nashik-based Indian firm, Maoists argue that it compromised on Nepal’s security.

On Sunday, Sujata Koirala termed the scrapping of the deal with India as unfortunate and stated that it could affect bilateral relations between both countries.

Two separate petitions regarding the MRP contract are pending in Supreme Court as the government seems poised to call a global tender to award the contract to fresh bidders.

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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