Kathmandu, April 30:

Nepali Congress (NC) vice-president Sushil Koirala today accused the Maoist-affiliated Young Communist League (YCL) of terrorising people and disrupting political gatherings.

He came down heavily on the Maoists for “not changing their behaviours” despite joining the government. “Autocracy in any form will not be acceptable to the NC,” he said, adding: “During the Panchayati regime, it were Mandales (term used for hooligans supporting absolute monarchy) who used to terrorise our party. Now it is the Maoists in the name of YCL who are disrupting our meetings and even terrorising people.”

Addressing a gathering of NC workers here, he said: “The Maoists are still carrying out acts like extortion and abduction; only the use of khukuris to murder people has been minimised.”

Saying that the country cannot tolerate any more violence, Koirala slammed the Maoists for putting all blames on the NC and Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala for the current situation. “How justifiable will it be for the Maoists, as a partner in the government, to put all blames on PM Koirala alone?” he queried.

Criticising the Maoist fighters for coming out of cantonments, Koirala asked: “What if the Nepal Army personnel lose their patience?” He urged the Maoists to stop terrorising people.

Reacting to the CPN-Maoist’s demand to declare Nepal a republic from the parliament, NC general secretary Kul Bahadur Gurung said his party would not “in any way go for what the Maoists say”.

“NC will not deviate from its track,” he said and criticised the Maoists for shying away from taking responsibility for the current situation. “Merely putting all blames for the current turmoil on NC will be unjust,” Gurung added.

He also flayed the Maoists for regularly obstructing the House proceedings. NC central leader Bal Bahadur Rai said only elected representatives have the right to decide the fate of monarchy, not the current “handpicked” MPs.