Maoist Radicals take to the Streets

The following report comes from ekantipur.com. We will have on going reports posted as news in Nepal breaks.

During a torch rally from Sept 8th, 2011. Photo Credit: Eric Ribellarsi

Baidya-faction takes out torch rally against DPM’s remark

KATHMANDU, SEP 30 – UCPN (Maoist) Vice Chairman Mohan Baidya’s faction hit the streets on Friday with lighted torch in their hands to protest against the recent controversial statement by Defence Minister Sarat Singh Bhandari.

Various sister organisations of the hard-line faction led by Baidya have deliberated to take out the torch rallies across the country on Friday and Saturday evening, said Politburo member Kul Prasad KC.

Another Politburo member Naraya Sharma informed that the rallies along with other protest plans would continue unless Bhandari’s statement and the four-point deal are scrapped.

Earlier, it was decided in the Standing Committee that the protests would halt until the next Central Committee meeting. However, the Baidya faction has been demonstrating against Defence Minister Bhandari’s statement across the country for the past two days. Even CPN-UML and Nepali Congress (NC) affiliated organisations have been joining the Maoists in solidarity with the demonstrations.

Defence Minister Bhandari on Monday had said that the 22 Madhes districts would detach themselves from the nation if issues of Madhes were overlooked. “If the 22 districts decide to separate themselves from the nation, which law or statute would save the nation,” Bhandari had questioned.

Dahal meets Baidya

At a time when the internal struggle within the UCPN (Maoist) is intensifying, party Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal held talks with Vice Chairman Mohan Baidya.

The meeting between the two Maoist top guns, who are ideologically, came after the party Central Committee meeting slated to begin from today was cancelled.

The duo reportedly discussed the differing issues within the party and the way to deal with it.