Kathmandu: Senior leaders of Nepal's ruling
Maoist party, including the Prime Minister, were airlifted by
the Army Monday after they were stranded in a western district
because of a strike enforced by the former combatants.
Besides Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai, UCPN-Maoist
Chairman Prachanda and Vice-chairman Mohan Baidya were among
other half a dozen leaders left stranded in Pyuthan district.
The leaders had gone to Pyuthan to address a mass meeting
organised by the UCPN-Maoist Pyuthan in Bijuwar yesterday.
The former combatants called for the strike demanding a
lump sum of economic package for them, additional relief for
injured, disabled and the pregnant women combatants.
The government had decided to provide economic package to
those combatants who voluntarily chose to return to normal
life.
However, the combatants who were disqualified on te
basis of being late comers (joining the Maoist Army after the
peace process started) and those who were under age were not
provided any facility.
Both long and short route vehicles have not been operated
from the district from morning today.
The strike has also crippled normal life in most of the
districts outside Kathmandu.
PTI
First Published: Monday, March 05, 2012, 22:26