ALL PICS: KIRAN PANDAY |
Maoist Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal has said he wants a "dialogue with India" in order to resolve the current political impasse.
Addressing a mass gathering in Kathmandu that concluded the three-day long strike on Tuesday, the Maoist leader said it was pointless talking to the government because it takes orders from India.
"This government is run by a remote control from Delhi," he said. "We don't want to talk to the agents; we want to talk to the master."
Dahal also criticised the Indian army chief, who is said to have advised Nepal Army to not integrate Maoist combatants into the national army during Chief of Army Staff Chhatra Man Singh Gurung's visit to India.
"Who is he to tell us what to do and what not to do," Dahal said.
Dahal announced a month-long 'Awareness Campaign' beginning Friday, 25 December. He has warned that the party will hold indefinite strikes if the government fails to fulfil its demands by the end of the campaign.
On Monday, Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal had asked Dahal to return to talks saying further protests would invite confrontation, leading to derailment of the constitution-making and peace building processes.
Speaking to his party members on Tuesday, Maoist leader Baburam Bhattarai said the party would hold off the protests if the government is willing to discuss the president's reinstatement of the army chief last May.