As a part of their second phase of the protest programs, tens of thousands of the Maoist cadres on Thursday picketed the chief government secretariat in Nepal.
The day-long protest brought all government services being provided from the Singha Durbar to a complete halt after the Maoists prevented the government employees from entering into their respective offices located inside chief administrative zone.
This comes a day after the civil servants themselves halted the government services protesting against the incident of a minister physically assaulting a senior government official.
There were sporadic clashes between the police personnel and the agitating Maoists cadres after the latter tried to breach the ‘prohibited zones’ time and again. Eyewitnesses said about half a dozen protestors received minor injuries in course of the clashes.
Maoist cadres from Kathmandu valley and those brought in from adjoining districts including Kavre, Nuwakot, Dhading, Gorkha and Tanahun staged demonstrations at Bhadrakali, Maitighar, Babarmahal, Kalikasthan, Exhibition Road and other places around Singha Durbar. They had been brought from various districts in reserved buses to participate in the demonstration.
The government had deployed hundreds of police personnel and Armed Police Force (APF) personnel around Singha Durbar since early morning keeping in view of possible untoward incidents. However, there were no
such incidents reported.
The protesting Maoist cadres sang various kinds of traditional and 'revolutionary' songs, making the atmosphere very lively and musical. Some of them even danced and found a unique way of protesting by reciting poems and performing caricature of various leaders of the ruling parties.
The protests also left vehicular movement in the downtown of Kathmandu completely paralyzed almost throughout Thursday. Most schools, market places and other offices remained closed around Singha Durbar although the Maoists had earlier announced not to disturb the normal functioning of other offices except government offices.
The former rebels, who fought a decade-long civil war with the state before getting majority seats in the Constituent Assembly held in April, 2008, stepped down from the government in May 2009 after President Dr Ram Baran Yadav reinstated then army Chief Rookamangud Katawal sacked by the Maoist-led government.
Since then, the Maoists have been launching a series of protest programs demanding a public apology from the president. The Maoists have also put forth demand of forming national government under their leadership, dismissing the current Madhav Kumar Nepal-led government.
The agitating Maoists have announced to picket the principal government secretariat even on Friday as a part of their ongoing protest program against the government.
- Asian Tribune -
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