Kathmandu, February 19:

Central committee member of the CPN-Maoist, Hit Man Shakya, today said his party would take up arms if conspiracy is hatched against the people’s aspiration for a constituent assembly.

“Now, not only 35,000 people’s liberation armies, but some two crore people would revolt,” he said, while addressing an emergency mass meeting organised by the sister organisations of the CPN-Maoist at Ratna Park this afternoon. Shakya said the existing legislative parliament should declare Nepal a republic; otherwise the parties who go against the people’s will would wither away.

“The nation is reeling under such incidents due to the bewilderment of the seven political parties,” he said, adding no political parties announced protest programmes even when the king has challenged the Nepali people in threatening language.

The sister organisations of the CPN-Maoist organised a rally to protest against the statement of the king and the bomb attack at its office in Kupondol on Sunday.

Shakya also said the lives of the senior Maoist leaders are at risk and they could be arrested anytime. President of the All Nepal Women’s Association (Revolutionary) Jaya Puri Gharti warned that the Nepali people still have guns in their hands and they can take it anytime.

General secretary of Jana-morcha Nepal Ghanashyam Poudel said the palace is the place of corruption where conspiracy is hatched against the people and therefore people should capture it as soon as possible. The interim constitution itself should declare Nepal a republic, he said.

“The parties who try to save monarchy would wither away,” he said, adding the people would be compelled to declare Nepal a republic state if the legislative parliament failed to do so at the earliest.

“People will see who will stand for monarchy in the parliament,” he said.

Earlier, the rally of thousands of people had gone to different parts of the city including Putalisadak, Exhibition Road, Sahid Gate, New Road, Indra Chowk, Ason and Bhotahity shouting anti-monarch slogans.