Birgunj, January 6:

The CPN-UML staged a massive demonstration in Birgunj today. Thousands of party activists from Parsa, Bara and Rautahat districts and many locals participated in the demonstration organised to make the public aware of the need to boycott the upcoming municipal elections.

The strip of road between Power House chowk and Adarshnagar stadium was converted into a red sea by UML banners and flags. This is the first mass demonstration organised after the February 1 royal move. CPN-UML general secretary Madhav Kumar Nepal and standing committee member Bam Dev Gautam led the rally that started from the Power House chowk. The participants shouted slogans against autocracy and demanded total democracy.

Addressing the mass meet held at Adarshnagar stadium following the rally, Nepal alleged the King of not giving positive response to the Maoists’ call for ceasefire as the monarch doesn’t want violence in the country to end. “The King has pushed the Maoists back to their violent ways. He believes that his autocratic regime will be extended if the war prolongs,” Nepal added.

“The palace has been deceiving us since 2007. The political parties will not make the mistake of kneeling down before it again,” Nepal said urging the participants in the mass meeting not to suspect the parties’ motives. “We have learnt from history and our past mistakes,’ he said.

Nepal said the people believed that the political parties alone could restore peace in the country by bringing the Maoists into political mainstream. Nepal also expressed his disappointment over Rastriya Prajatantra Party’s decision to participate in the polls.

“I urge the RPP chairman to join the agitating parties in our bid to restore peoples’ rule in the nation,” Nepal said. Standing committee member Bam Dev Gautam said the palace had always conspired to perpetuate political instability in order to gain power.

He labelled the upcoming polls a ‘farce’ and said the political parties refused to take part in such a farce as jokers. “We will not let the polls be successful at any cost. Let the government put prices on our heads and issue red corner notices against us,” he said.

Talking about the willingness shown by some leaders of the seven-party alliance to go for a dialogue with the King, Gautam said, “Nothing will be achieved through a dialogue with this King. Our voices will not be heard.”

The King himself has forced the political parties into choosing the path of republicanism, Gautam said, adding, the ongoing movement would restructure the State and bring total democracy.

UML central committee member Urmila Aryal also addressed the meet.