Maoists set for indefinite strike to topple Nepal government

Maoists' supremo Prachanda today stepped up pressure on prime minister Madhav Kumar Nepal to quit as he announced an indefinite nationwide strike from May 2 to topple the fragile government.
   
"We announce an indefinite general strike from May 2 for peace and constitution," Prachanda told mediapersons.
   
"We have called for an indefinite strike to ensure peace and promulgation of the constitution and form a national unity government," Prachanda said.
   
Prachanda demanded the immediate resignation of the prime minister to pave the way for the setting up a national unity government under his leadership to push forward the stalled peace process and drafting of a new constitution.
   
The former Maoists prime minister threatened to shut down all industries, vehicular movement and educational institutions throughout the country.
   
The political leaders are struggling to meet a May 28 deadline to finish the drafting of a new constitution as stipulated by the peace process that brought the civil war to an end in 2006.
   
The Maoists, who have around 40% of the seats in parliament, want the present government disbanded, followed by the formation of a new coalition government led by them.
   
The Maoists earlier announced a protest rally against the 22-party ruling coalition on May 1. The UCPN-Maoist party, which is planning to bring 4 lakhs supporters to the capital on May 1, accused the government of trying to undermine the mass protest.
   
Even as keeping the doors for negotiations open during the general strike, he warned: "If the movement turns violent due to the government's suppression, the government will be responsible for it".
   
He described remark made Nepal that Prachanda was not acceptable as prime minister a conspiracy against his party.
   
The US today expressed concern over the stalled peace process in Nepal. Robert O Blake Jr, the US assistant secretary of state for South and Central Asian Affairs, met prime minister Nepal, and discussed political developments, including the delay in the drafting of a new constitution, the peace process, human trafficking and economic development.
   
The top US official expressed concern over the stalled peace process and enquired about the progress in drafting the new constitution, according to Rajan Bhattarai, the PM's foreign affairs advisor.
   
Analysts fear that the death of former Nepalese leader Girija Prasad Koirala, who was instrumental in bringing the Maoists to mainstream politics after a decade-long insurgency in 2006, could derail the faltering peace process.