US urge Maoists to refrain from violence
Visiting US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs Robert O Blake has urged the Maoists to refrain from violence during their nationwide strike. Utpal Parashar reports.
Visiting US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs Robert O Blake has urged the Maoists to refrain from violence during their nationwide strike.

"We welcome Dahal's assurance of peaceful protests, but Maoists would be judged not by their words but by their actions," he said while addressing a press conference on Monday.
Blake who is on a three day visit to Nepal met UCPN (M) chief 'Prachanda' and Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal and took stock of the peace and constitution drafting processes.
He urged all political parties to work together as Nepal is going through a "critical moment" and consensus is needed to avoid a "constitutional crisis".
ABOUT THE AUTHORUtpal ParasharA 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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