The major opposition party, the UCPN (Maoist), which held a series of protests in the last year, has called an indefinite general strike from May 2.
“Our one year experience shows that this remote-controlled government is not at all affected by simple protests,” said Maoist Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal “Prachanda” on Monday. “So, our party has decided to organise huge demonstrations in the country on May 1.”
Mr. Dahal, who calls the present CPN (UML)-led government a puppet of India, said: “If there is no required consensus by May 1 to assure peace and constitution, our party will launch an indefinite nationwide strike from May 2.” Educational institutions, markets and factories would be shut down, he told reporters.
Though the Maoist have said their protests would be peaceful, 10 ruling parties of the government have demanded withdrawal of the plan. Deputy Prime Minister Bijay Kumar Gahhadar, who represents the Madhesi Janadhikar Forum Loktantrik, said the Maoists had gone against the peace agreement by providing their cadres training with khukri (a Nepali weapon) and sticks. The Maoist Chairman, on the other hand, says the training is for the management of their followers on May 1.
