Nepal Maoists general strike enters third day

KATHMANDU - Normal life across Nepal was crippled for the third consecutive day on Tuesday in the wake of a nationwide indefinite general strike.

Transportation, market places, academic institutions and industries were brought to a virtual standstill.

Maoist cadres have thronged major thoroughfares of the capital since early this morning to enforce the strike.

Maoist vice-chairman Dr Baburam Bhattarai has said there is no alternative left than to continue with the indefinite strike unless there is guarantee of a pro-people constitution and peace.

Nepalnews quoted him as, saying that the nationwide movement his party is waging would be decisive and topple the current government to replace it with a national unity government.

He also expressed his disgust at efforts to give continuity to the current government by issuing threats of army deployment, but said they will never be successful.

Meanwhile, ten of the 22 ruling parties asked Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal not to resign even as the Maoists continues to mount pressure on the government by enforcing a nationwide indefinite strike.

A meeting of the senior leaders of the ruling parties held at the Prime Minister’s residence concluded that the current stalemate could be resolved only through talks and renewed the call to the Maoists to withdraw the agitation and come to the negotiating table.

They also concluded that the government cannot be changed because of pressure built through street movement and that the Maoists should follow constitutional procedures for this. (ANI)