Sindhupalchowk, April 9:

The Maoists are obstructing the village councils in most of the VDCs of Sindhupalchowk district even after joining the government.

After an all-party agreement, the DDC had directed the VDC offices to hold the councils. However, the meetings are yet to be held owing to the Maoist obstruction, VDC secretaries said. Earlier, the Maoists had said the councils would be held after their inclusion in the interim government.

Talking to this daily, CPN-Maoist district member Chiranjibi Achar-ya said: “The councils would be held following new directives from the ministry. We will allow it according to the new directives.”

Budget of some VDCs is being frozen due to delay in holding the village councils. “Village councils used to be held within the Mangsir month,” DDC sources said.

“If the councils are not held on time budget will be frozen,” said LDO Chiranjibi Bhandari. Village councils, called after the all-party meeting, could not be held, said Krishna Gyawali, secretary of the Melamchi VDC. “A meeting was called on Friday but it could not be hold as the Maoists obstructed it,” Gyawali said.

However, councils of Bhotsipa and Fulpingkachhi VDCs were held, said the DDC sources. Local leaders of other parties are in favour of holding the councils. “We are trying to hold the councils soon. We can still control budget from being frozen if the councils are held,” said LDO Bhandari.