'Nepal Maoists may declare parallel government'

Maoists' supremo Prachanda has warned that his party may declare a "parallel government" in Nepal if the ruling coalition fails to address the key dispute over "civilian supremacy", which has forced them to take to the streets.

Maoists' supremo Prachanda has warned that his party may declare a "parallel government" in Nepal if the ruling coalition fails to address the key dispute over "civilian supremacy", which has forced them to take to the streets.

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Prachanda, who headed Nepal's first post-royal government, said even as they had withdrawn their plan to announce "autonomous states" the party may declare a "parallel government" if it was forced to move into the next phase of its protest to dislodge the alliance, the Nepalnews online reported.

Responding to the stepped up security and threats to mobilise the army to maintain law and order in the face of the Maoists agitation, Prachanda warned the government that they would be compelled to take up arms if force was used to quell the protest.

He challenged the 22-party government to mobilise the army to subdue the Maoists, saying the Nepal Army is not the private property of some parties and that the army would not act at the behest of these parties, according to the Nepalese news portal.

Addressing the national convention of Maoist-affiliated Madhesi Rastriya Mukti Morcha in Birgunj town on the Indo-Nepal border yesterday, Prachanda said his party may also declare "autonomous Madhes state" if it was forced to extend its agitation in the dispute with President Ram Baran Yadav over the reinstatement of General Rukmangad Katawal, the Army Chief dismissed by him in May.