Kathmandu, October 11:

A central committee member (CCM) of the CPN (Maoist) CP Gajurel said today that people will capture Singha Durbar on the strength of a movement if the parliament does not declare the nation a republic.

Addressing a mass meeting organised after a rally, Gajurel said the Maoists are pressing for the declaration of a republic because the Constituent Assembly polls may not abolish the monarchy. He said CA polls will not take place if the nation is not declared a republic immediately.

Another CCM Hit Man Shakya claimed that the CPN (Maoist) had to insist on the issue of parliamentary proclamation of a republic and a proportional election system after they came to know that the seven parties have ties with the monarch.

“Our fight is not with the NC and UML, but with the feudal monarchy and the imperialists,” he said, adding that the people will declare Nepal a republic from the streets and decide the fate of the CA polls if the parliament fails to do so.

Earlier, thousands of people marched from Maitighar Mandala. The rally converged into a gathering at Ratna Park after passing through New Baneswor, Old Baneswor, Maitidevi, Dillibazaar, Putalisadak and Bagbazaar.

Meanwhile, demanding the adoption of a proportional electoral system, parliamentary proclamation of a republic and federal states on the basis of ethnicity, language and

region, the Nepal Federation of Indigenous Nationalities (NEFIN) — the umbrella organisation of indigenous nationalities of the nation — organised a three-hour sit-in at Maitighar Mandala. A large number of people from Dalit communities and women were also took part in the sit-in. NEFIN president Pasang Sherpa said he will hold a discussion in this regard with leaders of the Janajati departments of the political parties tomorrow.