The Communist Party of Nepal led by Netra Bikram Chand ‘Biplav’ on Tuesday announced a protest programme after the Kathmandu District Court issued arrest warrants against the party’s senior leaders. The protest programmes include taking out torchy rallies, burning effigies and nationwide marches.

The court’s action is not only a direct violation of the three-point agreement reached with the government but also an attack on the initiative being taken to resolve the country’s problems peacefully, Chand, the party’s chief, said in a statement on Tuesday.

The party further said that withdrawing the charges against the party leaders and cadres and releasing those jailed was part of the agreement.

The court on Monday issued the arrest notice against the party chief Chand, standing committee member Khadga Bahadur Bishwakarma ‘Prakanda’, Kathmandu Valley Bureau in-charge Maila Lama ‘Prajwal’, and Raju Karki, chair of the All Nepal Peasants’ Federation Revolutionary.

The court has asked them to be present at the court with all the evidence they have within 35 days (except the travel time) of issuance of the arrest warrant notice. “Otherwise, the case will take its legal course,” the court has said in its notice. “Later, your complaints will have no effect.”

The district court said it issued the arrest warrant according to the court order passed on November 26 in response to a sedition case filed against the leaders over two months ago.

Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal expressed discontent over the issuance of arrest warrants against the leaders. He said the court's action had created complications in the political deal reached earlier between the government and the Chand-led group to bring them into peaceful politics.

The splinter faction of the former Maoist party led violent underground politics under the leadership of Chand even after the CPN (Maoist) joined the government under Dahal's leadership.

Chand's party rejoined mainstream politics after signing a three-point deal with then KP Sharma Oli-led government in March 2021.

His organisation is also a constituent of a four-party grouping led by Prime Minister Dahal formed earlier this year in July.

The party, which advocates against the present parliamentary democracy, has no presence in Parliament as it has been boycotting elections so far.