Hardliner Maoist students protest against India

Pro-Maoist students close to the hardliner faction led by Mohan Vaidya 'Kiran' have staged a demonstration here against alleged Indian interference in the formation of a national government in Nepal.

The protesters briefly clashed with the police while organising a torch lit rally at Ratnapark and Kamaladi area in the heart of the capital last evening, eye-witnesses said.

They also obstructed traffic for an hour to show their protest against what they called "direct intervention of India" in Nepalese politics.

We protest India's direct interference in our internal issues," said Ratna Dhakal, central committee member of the All Nepal National Independence Students Union- Revolutionary.

"We condemn Indian interference in any sector of our country."

The student union has planned a series of protest programmes, which will be publicised today, he said. He alleged that the dissolution of Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai's cabinet and formation of a national government under him has been done with direct interference of India.

he protesters claimed that a senior Indian diplomat was present during the four party meeting consisting of top leaders belonging to Unified Communist Party of Nepal-Maoist, Nepali Congress, Unified Communist Party of Nepal-Unified Marxist Leninist and the Joint Democratic Madhesi Front that decided to dissolve the Bhattarai-led cabinet and form a unity government.

Meanwhile, CPN-UML, the third largest party in the Constituent Assembly, has decided not to join the national government under Bhattarai.

During a high-level meeting, the party accused "the Maoists of deviating from the spirit of consensus." In the meantime the general strike that crippled life in far-west Nepal continued in 11th day today. Educational institutions, factories and markets were closed  and transport services were affected.