Prachanda warns to turn colleges into barracks

Maoists supremo Prachanda warned his party would turn students into "fighters".

Kathmandu: Amid the bitter standoff over the formation of a new government, Maoists supremo Prachanda has threatened to turn colleges and universities into military barracks and students into fighters if "regressive elements" do not stop plotting against the main Opposition party.

"I call upon you to be prepared to become soldiers when the time comes," said the chairman of the Unified CPN-Maoist in the capital.

Inaugurating the 18th convention of the Maoist-affiliated All Nepal National Independent Students Union (Revolutionary), a student organisation linked to the former rebels, Prachanda called upon the youths "to be united against conspiracy being hatched by national and international regressive elements."

He warned that his party would turn all colleges and universities in the country into military barracks and students into fighters if the regressive elements do not stop hatching conspiracy against the organisation.

As national and international elements are plotting to hijack the achievements of Nepal`s revolution, the youths and the students must be prepared to face all consequence, he said.

Nearly 2,000 representatives of the pro-Maoist student organisation are taking part in the convention in the capital amid the political crisis in the country.
The country has been in a political limbo since the June 30 resignation of Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal under intense Maoists pressure.

However, the mainstream political parties have repeatedly frustrated attempts by the Maoists to form a new government under its leadership.

Prachanda has often accused the political parties of being in league with outside powers, including India, to prevent the former rebels from forming a government.
During the Maoists conclave last month, Prachanda blamed domestic reactionary forces for actively being engaged in "demoralising and paralysing" the democratic achievements.

PTI

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