Nepalgunj, Feb. 20 :Nepali Congress central member and former Minister of State Rewati Prasad Bhusal has said that the Nepali Congress launched an awareness campaign against Maoist violence and terrorism since it was a conspiratorial move to finish off democracy.

Addressing a mass meeting organised by the Nepali Congress Banke district committee to denounce Maoist violence, killings and terrorism here Saturday, Mr. Bhusal said the Nepali Congress was always ready to fight elements opposed to democracy.

Violence, terrorism and killing of innocent lives does nobody good, he added.

Central member of the Nepali Congress Women Department Mohammadi Siddiqui called upon those who have taken to violence means to give up violence and dedicate to the service of the people and the nation.

Nepal Women Association central member Uma Karki, Nepal Tarun Dal central member Hurmat Kumar Neupane, Nepal Dalit Sangh central member Lal Bahadur Bishwakama and Nepal Students’ Association central member Lokendra Bhandari called upon all to unite to fight violence and terror.

At the mass meeting presided over by Nepali Congress Banke district president Krishna Man Shrestha, Banke DDC chairman Omjung Rana, NC Banke district secretary Bishnu Prasad Sharma, former MP Krishna Prasad Upadhyaya Gautam and Bijaya Gupta also expressed their views.

In Kapilbastu,the Nepali Congress Kapilbastu district committee took out a rally in protest against the violence and terrorism in the country here Saturday.

The rally turned into a mass meeting at local Bal Mandir after going through various parts of the town.

Addressing the mass meeting, former minister of state for Finance Dip Kumar Upadhyaya said that a battle was going on in the country between those who wanted democracy and those who abhorred democracy.

He said the time has come for all the democracy-loving people to join hands in thwarting such anti-democracy elements.

Former MP Bishnu Raj Acharya called upon the Maoists to give up violence and arms and take part in the political process.

At the programme presided over by Nepali Congress district committee president Kamlesh Kumar Sharma, Nepali Congress district committee vice-president Sudhakar Pandey, Arjun Bahadur Singh Rayamajhi, Dan Bahadur Sribastav, Nepal Women Association district vice-president Mrs Sumitra Sharma and others also expressed their views.

In Janakpurdham,the Nepali Congress Dhanusha district committee held a protest mass meeting against the spate of violence, terrorism and killings perpetrated in the country in the name of Maoists at the party office here Saturday.

Earlier, a protest rally was taken out from the party office which went around the town before converging into the protest meeting.

Addressing the rally, MP Arabinda Thakur said that the so-called Maoists were unleashing a cycle of terror and violence in the country by killing innocent and unarmed people.

Various speakers including local party leaders and the district office-bearers of the sister organisations of the Nepali Congress also addressed the mass meeting denouncing Maoist violence and calling for the protection and promotion of democracy.

In Lamjung, the Nepali Congress district committee, Lamjung, organised a protest demonstration here on Saturday as per the programme of the Nepali Congress central committee.

The protest rally which started from the Nepali Congress district party office converged into a mass meeting on reaching the local Narayan Mandir premises after passing through local Bhimsensthan and manange Chautara.

Addressing the mass meeting, various district level party leaders spoke on the significance of the protest march.

In Biratnagar, Nepali Congress Morang district working committee organised a protest meet and rally against Maoist violence and terror here Saturday.

The protest rally which began from the premises of Adarsha School went through the Goswara Road, Eye Hospital, main road, Mahendra Chowk, Sani Mandir, Rangeli Road and Hospital Chowk before converging for a gathering at the school premises.

A great number of people participated in the rally carrying banners and placards, and Chanting various slogans.

Speaking on the occasion, NC central member Mrs. Nona Koirala spoke of the need to launch a movement against crime and murder, in order to make the people feel safe.

Another central member of the party Arjun Narsingh K.C. expressed concerned over the inability of the present government to work in deference to the aspirations of the people.

MP Amod Prasad Upadhaya, NepalStudents’ Union central member Gururaj Ghimire and other speakers also expressed their views at the function chaired by NC Morang District Committee acting chairman Dilip Sapkota.

In Pokhara, Nepali Congress Kaski organised a procession and mass meeting in protest of violence, murder and terror here today.

Speaking at the mass meeting, chief whip of NC Parliamentary Party Gopalman Shrestha spoke of the need for party leaders to maintain a cordial atmosphere inside their respective parties and include their opposition parties also in the fight against terror and murder.

From the chair, MP and NC Kaski district president Sukraraj Sharma expressed gratitude to all those who helped in making the protest programme successful.

MP Prakash Bahadur Gurung urged all the workers of the party to move ahead unitedly with a high morale for the cause of democracy and peace in the country.