Prime Minister Sher Bahaadur Deuba has warned that peace talks that have begun between the government and the Maoist insurgents could breakdown if Maoists continue to resort to intimidation, extortion and organizing armed parades.

Prime Minister Deuba, speaking in a programme organized by Nepali Congress ex-lawmakers’ forum in Kathmandu, said that,  “if Maoists continue to intimidate people, forcibly collect donation and organize armed parades, peace talks could break down, which would be unfortunate for the nation”.

Deuba, then asked Maoists to eschew violence and other forms of activities that may affect peace talks. “I, thus, request Maoist leadership to abandon such activities and honestly create congenial atmosphere for talks,” Prime Minister Deuba said.

Deuba’s reaction and appeal came following some reports of extortion in the name of Maoist rebels in the capital. Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) is going to organize a mass meeting in Kathmandu in the third week of September, which the government and security agencies have objected.

Some senior leaders of the Nepali Congress have already asked the government not to allow the mass meeting in Kathmandu. Security agencies are also against allowing such a mass meeting in Kathmandu.

Maoists have organized such mass meetings in other parts of the country, in which, reports say, an armed parade takes place. In the first round of talks which were held last week, government and Maoist representatives had agreed not to provoke each other and carry out offensive and other activities that may harm the peace talks.

However, ruling party members have said that Maoists violated the understanding. President of the ruling Nepali Congress and former Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala has publicly demanded that Maoists must cancel the mass meeting scheduled to be held in Kathmandu in the third week of September.There has, so far, been no response from the Maoist side.