Leaders of the seven opposition alliance have said that they will hold the mass meeting slated for January 20 despite the government’s ban on mass gatherings inside the ring road area.

The Home Ministry Monday asked the parties to call off their protest programme saying

there could be infiltration by Maoists in the mass meeting and further stated to “help resolve the problem through dialogue and understanding.”

However, the seven-party leaders flatly rejected the government’s offer for talks, saying the “government does not have any standing and authority to make such an offer”.

Reacting to the government’s offer for talks, Nepali Congress spokesperson Krishna Sitaula said the alliance would not hold talks with the ‘unconstitutional government’. He said that the government issued the statement fearing the alliance’s massive preparations for Friday’s rally, reports said.

Sitaula further said that their ‘peaceful and non-violent’ rally would go on as planned, adding that the Maoists resorted to violence as the government did not reciprocate their unilateral ceasefire.

CPN-UML spokesperson Pradip Nepal said that it’s an expression of the government’s defeated mentality.

“Its an extremism of autocracy,” Nepal said in reference to the government ban on public gatherings.

Vice-Chairman of People’s Front Nepal, Lila Mani Pokhrel, said that the government’s latest move is a ploy to diffuse the agitation of the seven political parties, reports added.

Joint general secretary of Rastriya Prajatantra, Party Khem Raj Pundit, said that the prohibition is a clear picture of autocratic rule.

The seven agitating political parties are planning to hold a massive demonstration in the capital on January 20 in a bid to actively boycott the municipal polls slated for February 8.

Home Minister Kamal Thapa

Home Minister Kamal Thapa (File Photo)
According to reports, the government announced such restrictions after Home Minister Kamal Thapa held discussions with His Majesty King Gyanendra, who is in a three week long informal visit to eastern development region in Ithari on Monday.

The report further said that Home Minister Thapa, who held discussion with chiefs of the security agencies, informed His Majesty about the security situation.

Maoists killed 12 security personnel on Saturday during raids at different police posts in the Capital.