Bhaktapur, October 21:

Minister for Tourism, Culture and Civil Aviation Pradeep Gyawali has urged the Maoists to give up their attachment to weapons.

Speaking at the inauguration of Farmer’s Art and Culture Association in Bhaktapur today, he said talks between the seven-party alliance (SPA) and the CPN (Maoist) shall resume soon after Tihar.

Gyawali, who is also a member of the government talks team, said the government is making efforts to end the conflict and restore peace in the country.

He urged both the SPA and the CPN (Maoist) to exercise maximum flexibility during the next round of talks for the sake of a political way out.

President of the Association Bishnu Suwal presided over the programme.

Bhaktapur district secretary of the CPN-UML Rajendra Rajthala, Bhaktapur district president of the All Nepal Farmers’ Association Krishna Bahadur Dhuju and president of the Teachers’ Association Mahendra Gopal Karmacharya also spoke at the programme.