Kathmandu: As the Maoists prepare for a
massive show of strength in Nepal, the government has said it
would not hesitate to mobilise the Army if the anti-
government agitation went out of hand.
Minister for Information and Communication Shanker
Pokharel, who is also the government`s spokesman, said all
security agencies, including the Nepalese Army, would be put
into action if peace is disturbed and rule of law is violated
during the agitation.
"Army can be mobilised if Nepal Police and Armed Police
Force fail to control violent demonstrations," he said
yesterday talking to scribes at a function organised by a
journalists` group in Sunsari district of eastern Nepal, the
National News Agency (RSS) reported.
He said the government will not remain silent if the
peace was disturbed and the Maoists tried to create anarchy
and termed the Maoists` agitation as a plot to obstruct the
process of drafting the constitution.
"The government will mobilise all security agencies to
maintain law and order in the country and if the situation
goes out of control, then situation may arise to mobilise the
army," he said.
The Minister accused the Maoists of hatching various
conspiracies to obstruct the promulgation of the new
constitution and said "this is one of them".
Pokharel, however, said the government is still making
attempts to forge a consensus among the political parties to
resolve the current political crisis.
He also accused the Maoists for breaching the
Comprehensive Peace Accord by unilaterally announcing an
agitation to topple the government.
Pokharel`s comments came as an indefinite strike launched
by the pro-Maoist student union entered its fourth day today.
Some 8,000 private schools have been shut down across the
country by the union, which is protesting a fee hike,
affecting 1.5 million students.
The business people in the country have also accused the
Maoist cadres of forcing them to pay hefty donations.
PTI
