Prachanda sparks torch of protest

Himalayan News Service

KATHMANDU: Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’, chairman, Unified CPN-Maoist, today kicked off the second phase of the party’s struggle to restore ‘civilian supremacy’. He lit a specially designed torch — to mark the beginning of the nationwide protest — at Old Bus Park this evening, throwing the capital’s traffic out of gear during the rush hour. Many scared shopkeepers downed shutters early.

Thousands of Maoist cadres took part in the central rally, which was earlier initiated in various parts of the capital like Maha Bouddha, New Road Gate, Bhotahity and Durbar Marg.

All prominent Maoist leaders like Narayan Kaji Shrestha ‘Prakash’, Ram Bahadur Thapa ‘Badal’, Krishna Bahadur Mahara and Hit Man Shakya led several torch rallies in and around Ratnapark amid slogans of ‘People’s war is not over’. However, no untoward incident was reported. But the capital’s streets were littered with bamboo sticks and doused torches.

Earlier this afternoon, Prachanda warned that the government would be held responsible if the Maoists’ peaceful protest was suppressed. He made this statement while speaking at a tea reception at his constituency Badbhanjhyang near Thankot.

He also accused both the Nepali Congress and the CPN-UML for ignoring the politics of consensus.

Maoist CA members, including former minister Lekhraj Bhatta, were injured when the police lathicharged on agitators during a sit-in in front of Singha Durbar.

The Maoists plan to impose blockade at all entry points of the valley on November 10.

Maoists’ stir schedule

• Nov 1: Nationwide torch rally

• Nov 2: Picketing at VDCs, civic bodies

• Nov 4, 5: Picketing at DAOs

• Nov 9: To declare autonomous republican states

• Nov 10: Blockade at entry and exit points in the Kathmandu Valley, include the airport

• Nov 12, 13: Picketing at Singhadurbar