CHITWAN: Minister for Information and Communications Shankar Pokahrel today openly challenged the UCPN-Maoist's claim over forming the majority government led by them.

Speaking at an inaugural programme of ADSL system launched by Nepal Telecom in Bharatpur today, minister Pokharel said,"The government will not budge an inch from the agitation being staged by the UCPN-Maoists.''

Regarding the case of Foreign Minister Sujata Koirala's conspicous absence in the Prime-minister's-led team to India, Pokharel added, "It does not shake the coalition culture and it was her personal matter that she could not accompany the prime

minister."