A meeting of the opposition front claimed the ruling parties were against genuine agreement and wanted to weaken their ongoing protest. The front, however, maintained that it is ready for the dialogue anytime if the ruling parties come up with consensual model. UCPN (M) Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal had held several rounds of negotiations with the ruling parities, primarily with Prime Minister Sushil Koirala and CPN-UML Chairman KP Oli, but without success.

The ruling parties have softened their tone in recent days, but their position remains rigid on content, Dahal told the meeting. “Prime Minister always expresses a vague statement about consensus but fails to bring an impressive proposal,” he said. The UCPN (M) has suggested the ruling parties that the parties should engage in negotiations after fixing a new deadline.

Under the second round of protests, cadres of the opposition parties will picket government offices in districts on March 30 and 31. The agitating parties have announced to enforce nationwide shutdowns on April 2 and April 7-9. They have also threatened to close government offices and obstruct tax collection. The front, which had earlier decided to boycott both CA session and Parliament, however, has decided to attend Parliament meetings

Dozens injured in clashes

KATHMANDU: The nationwide “baton” protest called by the 30-party opposition alliance led by the UCPN (Maoist) took an ugly turn with sporadic clashes between police and protesters in various districts on Sunday.

Scores of protesters and the security personnel were injured in the clashes. A dozen protesters in Narayangadh, Chitwan, were hurt when police baton-charged them. Likewise, three police personnel and eight protesters were hurt in Birgunj. In Sindhuli, Deputy Superintendent of Police Shyam Kumar Mahato sustained minor injuries in a clash whereas local Maoist leader said more than 50 protesters were also hurt in the incident. In Pokhara, 30 people, including five police personnel and Kantipur Television journalist Indra Poudel, were injured. Similar clashes were also reported in Gulariya, Nuwakot, Kavre, Khotang, Bhojpur and Dhading.