KATHMANDU: Predicting an imminent battle between the democrats and the Maoists, Minister for Irrigation Balkrishna Khand today threatened to use force against the latter if the latter resorted to violent form of protest.

Minister Khand was reacting to the recent protest plan announced by the Maoists.

Speaking face-to-face with journalists at the Reporter's Club today, Minister Khand said such protests were clearly not in the national interest and was against democracy and people's supremacy. "In the garb of people's movement they are trying to create anarchism. But the government is fully equipped to tackle any untoward incidents,” he said.

He said that the government would empower the security agencies to provide security to the people at all cost.

He further claimed that Maoists were trying to capture power and establish a totalitarian regime. “They're trying to establish their own regime through the power of the gun, which is totally impossible," he said.