Normal life around the country continued to suffer on Friday due to the blockade imposed by the Maoists as a high-level meeting of seven opposition parties failed to arrive at a conclusion regarding an ‘understanding’ reached during parties-Maoist talks in New Delhi, India.
The meeting of top leaders of the seven-party alliance held at Nepali Congress (NC) president Girija Prasad Koirala’s residence at Maharajgunj this evening discussed the ‘understanding’ reached in the negotiation between the alliance leaders and the CPN (Maoist) representatives in Delhi.
The meeting was postponed until Sunday with top alliance leaders expressing different views over the understanding “as per which the parties will announce strong general strikes”- which was the main condition put forth by the Maoists to call off their ongoing blockade and upcoming bandh.
The seven-party meeting lasted for nearly an hour, according to participants.
Emerging out of the meeting, NC (Democratic) president Sher Bahadur Deuba said the alliance entered into a serious discussion over the ongoing move. “We continue to discuss a range of issues. We are very serious which is why the meeting has been extended,” Deuba told reporters.
He, however, dodged questions regarding the ongoing talks in New Delhi. “I don’t know about Delhi [negotiations],” he concluded.
In Delhi, an agreement has been reached between the parties and the Maoists to issue a joint appeal declaring general strike by the alliance while the rebels would withdraw their blockade, according to news reports.
Arjun Narsingh KC of the NC said today’s seven-party meeting was focussed on the upcoming mass demonstration of the seven parties slated for April 8.
Similarly, CPN (UML) leader Subash Nemwang said, “We are gearing up for a massive mass movement on April 8 while the royal government is making all attempts to disrupt it. Today’s meeting was mainly focussed on our movement.”
Normal life was affected on the fourth day of the Maoist blockade imposed in highways and district headquarters around the country as prices of vegetable and other essential goods continued to soar. There were also reports of food shortage in a number of district headquarters.
Meanwhile, Home Minister Kamal Thapa warned that the government would not hesitate to take stringent action against the leaders of the opposition parties for forging links with the Maoists who have been declared as terrorists.
Addressing the inaugural session of the Makawanpur District Council in Hetauda today, Thapa said the Maoist-parties collaboration was against the spirit of nationality and national sovereignty.
The interior minister accused the parties of trying to launch movement for a republican state with the help of the Maoists. He said that the parties-Maoist understanding would not give outlet to the present political impasse.