<p>Wrapping up the second phase of Maoists’ anti-government agitation in the Nepalese capital, Prachanda asked the 22-party government led by Premier Madhav Kumar Nepal of CPN-UML to fulfil his party’s demands by November 20.<br /><br />General strike<br /><br />He warned that if “civilian supremacy” is not restored and President Ram Baran Yadav’s “wrong” step of reinstating the then army chief Rukmangad Katwal not rectified through a parliamentary discussion in a week’s time, his party will launch a general strike and other forms of strong protests.<br /><br />Addressing the Maoists’ public meeting outside the ‘Singhdurbar Secretariat’, the seat of the government whose functioning was paralysed by the protest, Prachanda termed their two-week-long agitation as “successful” and thanked the people for their participation.<br /><br />His comments came a day after Prime Minister Nepal urged him to withdraw the agitation and come forward for dialogue. <br /><br />“I urge all to show the required flexibility and accept the current political reality,” Nepal said in a statement.<br /><br />Despite his call, Maoists surrounded the ‘Singhdurbar Secretariat’ for the second straight day as part of their protest aimed at dislodging the 22-party administration as authorities tightened security to prevent further violence.<br /></p>
<p>Wrapping up the second phase of Maoists’ anti-government agitation in the Nepalese capital, Prachanda asked the 22-party government led by Premier Madhav Kumar Nepal of CPN-UML to fulfil his party’s demands by November 20.<br /><br />General strike<br /><br />He warned that if “civilian supremacy” is not restored and President Ram Baran Yadav’s “wrong” step of reinstating the then army chief Rukmangad Katwal not rectified through a parliamentary discussion in a week’s time, his party will launch a general strike and other forms of strong protests.<br /><br />Addressing the Maoists’ public meeting outside the ‘Singhdurbar Secretariat’, the seat of the government whose functioning was paralysed by the protest, Prachanda termed their two-week-long agitation as “successful” and thanked the people for their participation.<br /><br />His comments came a day after Prime Minister Nepal urged him to withdraw the agitation and come forward for dialogue. <br /><br />“I urge all to show the required flexibility and accept the current political reality,” Nepal said in a statement.<br /><br />Despite his call, Maoists surrounded the ‘Singhdurbar Secretariat’ for the second straight day as part of their protest aimed at dislodging the 22-party administration as authorities tightened security to prevent further violence.<br /></p>