Himalayan News Service

Rajbiraj, June 12:

CPN-UML general secretary Madhav Kumar Nepal said today that an alliance with the CPN-Maoist would be possible only if they dropped arms, accepted multiparty democracy and joined the peaceful pro-democracy movement with other political parties. Speaking at a press conference today, Nepal called the recent violent activities unleashed by the Maoists as an act of extremism and claimed that extremism prevailed in the country. “The present nationwide movement launched by the alliance of seven political parties is aimed at finding a way out of the impasse plaguing the country,” he said. “International communities have supported our movement which rightly justifies the significance of our movement,” he said. “Reinstatement of the house is the only way left to us. We have to go for constituent assembly if needed,” he said, adding: “The government has failed to comply with the objectives of the 29-point programme and instability and anarchism have further increased.”

He also labelled the present cabinet as being a “bunch of corrupt and rejected people.” UML politburo member Jhalnath Khanal claimed the movement would succeed because they were fighting for people’s cause. “The nation’s fourth estate should also aim to root out the autocracy prevailing in the country,” he said. Khanal also said the party would not take part in local elections. “Taking part in local elections would imply that we are supporting autocracy,” Khanal said. “The seven-party alliance would continue until we establish true democracy in the country and there is no question of break-up among the parties at any cost,” Khanal said.

The visits to India by prominent leaders was an attempt to acquire international support for the ongoing movement.