Amik calls Prez anti-nationalist

KATHMANDU: Senior leader of Unified CPN-Maoist Amik Sherchan, who had voted Dr Ram Baran Yadav to make him president of the country, today demanded his resignation accusing him of being anti-nationalist.

"I voted for Dr Yadav thinking that he was a nationalist but now found he isn't one," said Sherchan, while addressing the sit-in at the southern gate of Singha Durbar. He had to face an action from his former party CPN Ekata Kendra Masal for voting Dr Yadav in the presidential election in the CA.

Speaking at Bhadrakali UCPN-Maoist central committee member Krishna KC said if people's representatives were not allowed to discuss their issues in the Legislature Parliament, then people would confine the leaders inside Singha Durbar. "This is only a symbolic protest. We're working on further stringent protest plans," he said.

At Putalisadak Maoist member of Constituent Assembly and Newa State Committee in-charge of YCL, Chandra Bahadur Thapa 'Sagar', said youths would continue movement if the issues raised by the main opposition party were not addressed immediately. He said the president's move must be discussed in parliament; a national joint government must be formed and price hike must be controlled.

While addressing the mass meeting at Kalikasthan, Ganesh Regmi, general secretary of All Nepal Trade Union Federation said this government was formed through the grand design of US and India and therefore it would not be able to perform as per the aspiration of the people. He demanded that the one per cent tax imposed on lower level workers must be scrapped and demanded an increment of 40 per cent in salary and 100 per cent increase in dearness allowance. Regmi also demanded ration card provision to the workers and setting up of social security fund. President of ANTUF and CA member Shalikram Jammarkattel had addressed the gathering at Maitighar.

The Maoists also organised sit-in protests on the District Administration Office premises of Bhaktapur and Lalitpur bringing all the official works to a complete halt for more than an hour.