Nepal: CPN-Maoists' burn copies of proposed Power Trade Agreement with India

KATHMANDU: Cadres of CPN-Maoist, Nepal's breakaway Maoist party, and some other fringe parties today burnt copies of the proposed Power Trade Agreement, which is likely to be signed between Nepal and India shortly.

The activists of CPN-Maoist, led by hardliner Mohan Vaidya, and three dozen other parties, mostly those who boycotted the Constituent Assembly polls held last year, burnt the copies of the proposed agreement here, party sources said.

During Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Nepal last month, the two countries had agreed to conclude the Power Trade Agreement (PTA) - a framework pact for the commerce and power sector - within 45 days.

As Nepal and India are preparing to sign the PTA at the highest level, the Maoists are raising their voice against the power deal with India claiming that it would jeopardise the national interest of the country.

Party cadres staged a sit-in outside the southern gate of Singhdurbar, the main government administrative building that also includes the Prime Minister's office for two hours before burning the copy of the PTA as part of their protest programme.