Kathmandu, December 29:

Nepal Tarun Dal today staged protests in 16 major cities and towns, including Kathmandu, to pressure the government to implement Nepali Congress’s nine-point demand, also approved by the cabinet yesterday.

The urban protests by the Nepali Congress’s youth wing were also meant to control violent activities of the Young Communist League and other Maoist sister organisations.

Flag-bearing NC youths shouted slogans against criminal activities of Maoists’ sister organisations and government’s inaction to implement past agreements. After marching round the Ratnapark and Shahid Gate area, NTD leaders addressed the protest rally at Ratnapark.

NC central member and former NTD chairman Bal Krishna Khand said, “NC should immediately create ‘Tarun Dasta’ to defend the anarchist activities of YCL and its unions.” He accused the Maoists of creating terror throughout the country and behaving as if it were an opposition party.

Chairman of the NC-affiliated Nepal Students’ Union Pradip Paudel charged the Maoist-led government of promoting impunity. “Criminals have been released on PM’s order and the government has encouraged the politics of weapons,” he said.