Kathmandu: Nepal Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai, who was shown black flags on his arrival here from Brazil, on Monday refused to step down, saying he will not bow to pressure from political parties.
Bhattarai, who landed at Tribhuvan International Airport this afternoon, told reporters that he would hand over power only to the next elected government.
"I will not step down bowing to pressure of some political parties," he said.
Bhattarai was greeted with black flags by hundreds of youths and students mainly belonging to the opposition Nepali Congress in front of the airport. They chanted anti-government slogans demanded his resignation.
Around 35 activists were detained and two sustained injuries after a scuffle with the police, Nepali Congress Kathmandu district secretary Prachanda Dev Manandhar said.
Those arrested from the airport include Nepal Student Union president Karna Ranjit and NC Kathmandu District member Anish Ram Bhattarai, according to Nepali Congress sources.
Nepali Congress issued a statement condemning the police intervention on the peaceful demonstration.
The Nepali Congress, CPN-UML and two dozen other political parties have been pressurising Bhattarai to step down to pave way for form a national consensus government.
The opposition parties have termed Bhattarai's move to hold fresh election of the Constituent Assembly on November 22 as undemocratic and unconstitutional.
PTI
First Published: Monday, June 25, 2012, 20:40