Kathmandu, February 7:

The ongoing 17th central committee meeting of the CPN-UML today condemned the Maoists for attacking Nepali Congress central working committee member and lawmaker Dilendra Prasad Badu in Darchula yesterday.

“This meeting strongly condemns the Maoists for attacking Badu and cadres of other political parties. This is a serious violation of all the agreements reached with the Maoists and the right of the parties to reach out to the people with their programmes,” said a statement issued by party standing committee member Amrit Kumar Bohara at the end of today’s meeting.

The statement said that the Maoists have prevented leaders and cadres of other political parties from visiting the rural areas, saying that they all are their “base areas”.

A resolution passed by the meeting demanded that the government take immediate action against those involved in such acts and called the Maoist leadership not to repeat such actions in the future.

“The Maoist decision to reactivate the United Revolutionary People’s Council is against the peace accord and other agreements. The decision has severely affected preparations for the constituent assembly election,” the statement said.

Meanwhile, the Rastriya Prajatantra Party today issued a press statement and strongly condemned the attack on Nepali Congress (NC) leader Dilendra Prasad Badu by Maoist affiliated YCL.

Party chairman Pashupati SJB Rana demanded action against the YCL cadres involved in the attack saying, “Such violent activities would only hamper the environment of the Constituent Assembly election slated for April 10.”

The Nepali Congress (NC) today expressed serious concern over the Maoist decision to revive the People’s Council terming it as a blatant violation of all the peace agreements.

“This decision has seriously raised the party’s concern,” the NC said in a statement today urging the Maoists to withdraw what it said was an “irresponsible” decision.

The NC has also urged the Maoists to give up all unconstitutional and anarchic activities and show of strength to ensure a favourable environment to the April 10 CA election.

Badu instigated it, says Prachanda:

Banke: CPN (Maoist) chairman Prachanda on Thursday claimed that NC leader Dilendra Prasad Badu had instigated yesterday’s clash between the NC and the YCL cadres.

“Badu first rained lathis on social worker Harka Singh Dhami, who was trying to mediate a dispute there, and his security guards started shooting at YCL cadres,” he said.

He said this while here was here to see Dhami, who is undergoing treatment at the Kohalpur-based teaching hospital.

On revival of the People’s Council he said that the council was never dissolved. “It was just reshuffled in view of the approaching CA election,”

he said. — HNS