Prachanda steps up anti-India rhetoric

Tens of thousands of Maoists chanting anti-government slogans marched from different corners of Kathmandu to attend a public meeting at Tundikhel Khulamunch here.

The Maoist leaders had said that they expected half-a million supporters to take part in the rally. However,the Khulamanch Ground in the capital which had a capacity of 40,000 was packed and tens of thousands of people were seen standing outside the venue.

The protest rally,which began at 11 am was attended by senior Maoist leaders Prachanda,Baburam Bhattarai,Mohan Vaidya and Ram Bahadur Thapa Badal. Shops and factories were closed and traffic was thin in the capital.

We cannot tolerate this puppet government whose tone is changed after the Prime Ministers return from Thimpu, said Prachanda in an obvious reference to the meeting between Madhav Nepal and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. It was in this meeting that Singh has reiterated Indias support to the government of Nepal.

Madhav Nepal must be able to say that he is no Lhendum Dorjee of Sikkim, Prachanda said referring to the advisor of the Chogyal of Sikkim who worked toward Sikkims merger with India.

Prachanda also said that India should not think it can control Nepal through a puppet government or think that the Nepal Army is under its command.

In his address,Prachanda also told the Nepal Army not to carry out orders of the present government as it is the Maoists who have the peoples mandate.

He refrained from any criticism of the Nepal Army and said: As we re waging war for permanent peace,all the nationalist forces should support us.

Prachandas do or die speech came after Madhav Nepal refused to step down as Prime Minister.

In a democracy,decisions are based once consensus are reached,or Parliament takes such a decision. I will not resign leaving the country in the midst of crisis in the country merely at somebodys whims, Madhav Nepal said.

Minutes after Prachandas speech,the Prime Minister addressed the nation,in which he asked the Maoists to withdraw their strike to avoid confrontation and move towards cooperation and collaboration to end the political crisis.

The Prime Minister asked them to follow legitimate procedure and constitutional means to change the government instead of through street protests.

Change of government through street agitation would set wrong practice, he pointed out.

Madhav Nepal blamed the main Opposition party UCPN-Maoist for not cooperating in taking forward the peace process and managing the Maoists combatants. Despite our efforts,peace process is seriously obstructed and constitution making process has not made any progress, the CPN-UML leader said.

He accused the Maoists for focusing on power without bearing its responsibility as the largest party in the Constituent Assembly.

The Prime Minister,however,claimed that law and order situation has considerably improved after the formation of the coalition.

Riot policemen were deployed at every junction of the city with the government mobilizing about 15,000 policemen to maintain law and order.

Airport,government secretariat,telecommunications offices and other sensitive places were guarded by Army personnel in the wake of the protests.

With inputs from PTI