Prachanda had recently accused the government of hatching a conspiracy to kill some Maoist leaders, something the ruling coalition outrightly rejects, as being ‘fictitious’.

“If you have any factual information about

that, you better reveal it now. If not, I urge you to not make such allegations,” Minister Rawal

retorted. He was addressing an interaction organised at at Reporters’ Club Nepal today.

Rawal also recalled Prachanda’s similar allegation in not so distant a past, while he was the Prime Minister and said, “Making such false accusations doesn’t befit a leader like Prachanda.”

Minister Rawal also accused the Unified CPN-Maoist of trying to

misconstrue government’s genuine attempts at restoring law and order in the country.

“I wonder why the Maoists should be

scared of the government’s Special Security Plan. If at all they want the rule of law in the country, why should they express apprehensions about it?” he wondered.

Home Minister Rawal also requested the Maoists to call off their stir scheduled for December 20, 21 and 22. Meanwhile, Rawal warned that the campaign waged by the Maoists for announcing autonomous republican states would render the Constituent Assembly meaningless. He said that such a move would only undermine the popular mandate to the Maoists.

Rawal said such a move would contravene the Interim Constitution and that the government would deal it ‘politically’.

The Home Minister, meanwhile, expressed optimism that the government would bring the perpetrators, who committed atrocious acts, against journalist Tika Bista to book, very soon.

He raised concerns over ‘rumour’ spread by media about Suntali Dhami, a police woman, who was raped by her co-workers.

“The accused aresuspended and are incustody. The rumours that the government allowed the culprits to go scot-free is baseless,” he added.