Maoists try to obstruct PU’s convocation ceremony

KANTIPUR REPORT

BIRATNAGAR, SEP 14 - The Unified CPN (Maoist) activists have demonstrated outside the Shahid Rangashala in Biratnagar wehre Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal inaugurated the convocation ceremony of Purvanchal University (PU) on Monday.

The Maoists have claimed that over a dozen of their comrades have been injured when the police interfered in the demonstration.

The police took to lathi charge as the demonstrators pelted stones at them and private vehicles. They lobbed some shells of tear gas to disperse the mob.

Meanwhile, security has been beefed up in the area.

The Maoists have been obstructing the functions attended by the president, the prime minister and the ministers for what they call ‘civilian supremacy’, demanding rectification of the president’s move to reinstate the army chief sacked by the Maoist-led government.

PM Nepal was flown to Biratnagar in helicopter this morning. The Maoist activists had obstructed the PM at the Bharatpur Airport in Chitwan district for an hour yesterday.

Earlier today, the PM inspected the newly constructed buildings of the university at Gothgaun of Morang district.

"Maoists may join govt"

Meanwhile, before leaving to Biratnagar, Prime Minister Nepal claimed that he has received some hints regarding the participation of the Maoists in the government.

Saying that there is no alternative to the national consensus government, Nepal said the government under his leadership will be national government if the Maoists participate in it.