Take back strike, civil activists urge Maoists

Civil activists have urged the Unified CPN-Maoist to call off its general strike and re-engage in the constitution-writing process.

They said the people were angry and dismayed with political parties. “Amidst all this, we are surprised and saddened by the indefinite general strike called by the UCPNMaoist. The strike is devastating the national economy even as millions of students have been kept away from schools and colleges,” said an appeal jointly issued by 15 civil activists.

They suggested that the Interim Constitution of Nepal was itself a document representing consensus and cooperation, and the Maoist party must seek response to its demands within the bounds of this document.

“We therefore appeal to the UCPN-Maoist to end its general strike and return to the legislative parliament. As the largest party in the House, we urge it to re-engage in the task of constitution-writing,” said the appeal. Chandrakishore, Charan Prasai, Hari Bansha Acharya, Kanak Mani Dixit and Kul Chandra Gautam were among the 15 who signed the appeal.