Maoists hold massive rally against 'foreign intervention'

Thousands of Maoist supporters took to streets on Sunday to protest against what they alleged "foreign intervention" in Nepal's affairs and to oppose President Ram Baran Yadav's move to reinstate the army chief.     

All major roads in the capital Kathmandu were blocked as protesters gathered in the Tundikhel Open Ground for the rally, which came two weeks after Premier Prachanda resigned in the wake of the controversy over his sacking of army chief Gen Rukmangad Katawal.     

Most of the schools and colleges remained closed and the Maoist leaders ordered their cadres to ferry students, workers and other activists to the venue for their protest show.     

Maoist Lawmakers have been blocking parliamentary proceedings for over a week now, asking the President to rectify his step of reinstating the army chief.     

The Maoist leaders have claimed that they wanted to maintain supremacy of the civilian government."Let's oppose foreign intervention" and strengthen nationalism, read a poster pasted by the Maoists near the venue of the rally, but it did not refer to any country.     

However, Prachanda had earlier accused India of backing President Yadav's move to block the sacking of the army chief by the Maoist government.