Kathmandu, Oct 18: The Nepalese government is ready to hold talks with the Maoists at any time provided the rebels come to the negotiation table with honesty, Prime Minister Surya Bahadur Thapa has said. ''The government is ready for peace talks with the Maoists at any time. Since they are indulging in violence and killings and activities that disturb peace, the only prior condition is that they should honestly demonstrate their wish to open the door to peace,'' Mr Thapa said at a programme organised on the occasion of police day.
The Prime Minister, however, did not specify about the conditions for holding the talks. He urged all political parties, social organisations and all those in favour of peace to show solidarity for resolving the problem that has come upon the nation. The third round of talks between the government and the Maoists ended inconclusively in late august after the Maoists stuck on their demand of for a new constitution. Since then more than 400 people have been killed in Maoists violence.
Meanwhile, Speaker Taranath Ranabhat flayed the government's intention to hold elections. He said the government will, in no way, be able to hold parliamentary polls until and unless the Maoists are brought to the national politics. ''I don't know what sort of elections the Prime Minister is going to hold,'' Mr Ranabhat said.
''The government is limited only to the headquarters. There is no government in the village. How can the government hold elections in such a situation,'' he said at a programme in Pokhara yesterday. Bureau Report