Kathmandu, March 5:

Standing committee member of the CPN-UML, Bharat Mohan Adhikari, said today the seven-party alliance would not hold dialogue with the King unless “autocratic rule” ends and demcracy and peace are restored.

“We, the seven-party alliance, have unity and we will not hold talks with the King unless he

transfers executive power and sovereignty to the people,”

Adhikari said at a condolence meeting on the 45th day of the death of Left leader and National Assembly member, Mahesh Mani Dixit, at Balkhu.

He said the meeting of the alliance’s leaders scheduled for tomorrow would announce big protest rallies in the capital and other parts of the country in the first week of April. He also appealed to the Maoists to declare a unilateral ceasefire at least for March, April and May.

“The so-called audience granted by the King to leaders of fringe political parties in Pokhara indicates he has retreated from his autocratic roadmap. Even royalists are clamouring for a dialogue with the alliance,” Adhikari said, adding: “We will continue our agitation to completely defeat the King’s autocracy.”

He also thanked US president George W Bush and Indian Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh for showing concern over Nepal’s deteriorating political situation and urging the King to return to “functioning democracy.” “Nepal’s democratic movement had never received such support from the international community,” he said.

Others who extended condolences to late Dixit inlcuded National Assembly member Beduram Bhusal, UML’s parliamentary secretary Rajendra Pandey and chairman of UML’s advisory committee Kamal Koirala, who flayed the government for not even extending a message of condolence on the death of a sitting MP. Late Dixit’s widow Madhuri and son Dr Arun also attended.

Meanwhile, a meeting of the CPN-UML’s Valley People’s Movement Coordination Committee reviewed the joint movement launched after the January 20 Kathmandu rally. The meeting, chaired by UML central member Krishna Gopal Shrestha, handed over the committee’s responsibility to standing committee member Ishwor Pokharel. Youth leader Bhanu Bhakta Dhakal said the meeting noted that the Maoists must give up violence and join the peaceful stir to restore democracy.