Friday, April 21 2006 10:23 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Kathmandu: Stepping up their offensive against King Gyanendra, leaders of the seven-party alliance yesterday (Apr 20, 2006) said token moves by the monarch would not serve any purpose and pressed their demand for handing over sovereign power to the people.

A day after Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's special envoy Karan Singh expressed the hope that Nepal King Gyanendra would make an announcement that would help defuse the crisis, Nepali Congress leader Ram Chandra Poudyal said "Given the way the movement has snowballed both in agenda and dimension, there is no way we can make do with token steps. Election to the Constituent Assembly is a must."

Nepali Congress Democratic leader Minendra Rijal said "Aspirations of the people are least likely to be addressed until and unless the future of monarchy is put to ballot. Election to a Constituent Assembly is the bottom line."

Meanwhile, people rushed out to buy provisions as curfew clamped for over a day was lifted for six hours from 0300 hours to 0900 hours this morning. A Home Ministry announcement said curfew has been extended from 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Normal life has been disrupted in the capital, which is facing acute shortage of fuel and food supplies.

The envoy yesterday had a two-hour meeting with the monarch and handed over a letter from Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

He emphasised that a lasting solution to the problems of Nepal has to be found by the people of the country through a peaceful political process.

During his visit to the country, Singh also met with former Nepalese Prime Ministers Surya Bahadur Thapa, Girija Prasad Koirala and Sher Bahadur Deuba and Rashtriya Prajatantra Party President Pashupati Rana.