Cabinet vice-chairman Dr Tulsi Giri addressing a press conference at his office at Singha Durbar, Tuesday afternoon, Dec 20 05. Photo courtesy : Department of Information

Vice chairman of the council of ministers, Dr. Tulsi Giri, has ruled out possibility of holding talks with the Maoist rebels.

Addressing a press meet at the Department of Information Tuesday afternoon, Dr. Giri said the government will not reciprocate to the Maoist truce. “They have done the truce for the opposition parties, not for the government. So, there is no question of reciprocating to them,” he added.

Dr. Giri also claimed that the Maoists had been thoroughly weakened during security operations launched against them post-February 1.

The CPN (Maoist) announced a three-month-long unilateral ceasefire in September this year. The party later extended the ceasefire for one more month until early January next year.

Dr. Giri—who is no. 2 in the royal cabinet—said the government had not constituted any ‘negotiation team’ as being reported by some section of the media.

“It is the height of imagination,” he told reporters.

He further said the royal government was committed to hold municipal elections slated on February 26, next year.

“The seven-party opposition alliance has right to boycott polls. But they don’t have right to bar people from exercising their right to vote,” said Dr. Giri. “The government will take strong action against anybody who are found engaged in such exercise,” he warned.

The opposition alliance has already announced that it will boycott all type of elections conducted by what it calls the ‘unconstitutional government.’

Commenting on the 12-point understanding between the seven party opposition alliance and the CPN (Maoist), Dr. Giri said the government rejects such an understanding.

“How can you usher peace in the country by ending so-called ‘autocratic monarchy?” he asked.

The medical doctor-turned-politician, however, said the government was ready to hold discussions with opposition parties on all issues except the agenda of ‘republic.’ He did not elaborate.