KATHMANDU: The much-touted move for ‘civilian supremacy’ spearheaded by the UCPN-Maoist has turned to be a mere rhetoric today when hundreds of cadres belonging to its sister organisation - Young Communist League (YCL) - brazenly exhibited muscle-flexing tactics barring pedestrians from walking down the street surrounding Singha Durbar during the rush hour - 8 am to 4 pm.

In contrary to their leaders clamoring for ‘civilian supremacy’, ‘human rights’ and peace’, the YCL demonstrated just the opposite on the roads surrounding Singha Durbar today depriving the commuters their fundamental right to use the public road.

The cadres did not even hesitate urinating on the walls of the country’s administrative secretariat. They littered the roads with papers and plastics after having luncheon.

The traffic was brought to a grinding halt during the period. The protest threw normal life out of gear.

“They have no respect for human rights. All they care about is state power and bagging ministerial berths,” said a commuter, requesting anonymity.

Uma Shrestha, owner of a photo studio at Hanumansthan near the south gate of Singha Durbar said the Maoist were simply hungry for power. “Their protest exhibited a lust for power, nothing more,” she said, as the scuffle between the police and the demonstrators intensified.

“We shuttered shop and waited in for about two hours to resume our business,” Shrestha added. Shrestha who pocketed daily income between Rs 500 and 1000 on an ordinary day, returned home high and dry today.

Tear gas shells fired by the riot police to control the mob were much to the annoyance of children and elderly in the vicinity.

In contrary to their earlier statements that the protest would be peaceful, demonstrators resorted to arson and vandalism. They vandalised furniture at Kalinchowk Furniture Industry. Chagunarayan Restaurant was vandalised too.

Deepak Baral, a representative for Janaki Medical College in Janakpur, said he had to walk four kilometers on foot to reach Agriculture Development Bank at Ramshah Path.

“What kind of civilian supremacy is this?”, an infuriated Baral questioned.

No one was spared by the Maoist strike. Only ambulances were plying about the roads.

Maoist activist Bidur Dahal of Sindhuli himself acknowledged the displeasure at the ugly turn of events today.

“They stopped me when I was heading for Baneshwor and threatened to take action against me,” he said, calling it an atrocity.

Half a dozen protesters were injured in a clash with the police in today’s protest. The demonstrators also pelted stones at the security forces. The latter had to resort to firing teargas shells to control the unruly agitators.