Nepalese Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal on Saturday rejected calls for him to step down as tens of thousands of Maoist rallied in the capital Kathmandu seeking immediate removal of his government, dpa reoptred. Nepal went on national television and radio to announce his intentions as Maoist vowed to impose an indefinite nationwide general strike from Sunday to press their demands for a change in government. In his address, Nepal said removal of government through threats of violence, intimidation and strike would set in a wrong precedence. "It must be understood that the government with a majority in parliament can only be removed through constitutional means," Nepal said. "Seeking to change the government through street protests is against democratic norms." He also warned the government would use all resources to maintain law and order if the Maoist strike became violent. Earlier Saturday, an estimated 150,000 Maoists rallied through the streets of the Nepalese capital Kathmandu in a show of force. The Maoist cadres, waving traditional red communist flags, gathered in the central part of the city and demanded the government resign immediately. The protest kept most vehicles off the city's streets and many shops in the main commercial areas were shut. Addressing his supporters, Maoist top leader Puspha Kamal Dahal said his party would not back down on its demands. "The general strike and protests are not our desire but compulsion," Dahal told cheering supporters. The government, fearful of violence has deployed 15,000 riot police and armed police and has placed the army on high alert. "The Maoists want to seize power through mass protests," Defence Minister Bidhya Bhandari told journalists. "Despite Maoist pledges of peaceful protests, there are clear indication it could turn violent." "The peace agreement will cease to exist if the Maoists use force to try and capture power, and under those circumstances, we will deploy the army," Bhandari said. -- SPA
