The regular proceedings of the legislature parliament had to be cancelled with the Maoist lawmakers 'gheraoing' the Speaker's rostrum on Sunday, protesting what they called a government plan to ink an arms deal with India.

The Maoist lawmakers said they would not allow the regular proceedings in the parliament until the Prime Minister furnished clarification over the arms purchase issue. The House was adjourned for half an hour after the Maoist lawmakers 'gheraoed' the rostrum and chanted slogans. They refused to allow the House proceedings in the second sitting, too.

The next sitting is scheduled to take place at 1 pm Monday.

Earlier, speaking in the House, Maoist deputy parliamentary leader Narayan Kaji Shrestha claimed that the government was trying to incite civil war by seeking arms assistance from India.

He also said the government's latest activities smacked of a conspiracy to dissolve the Constituent Assembly, and announced that the House could not run until the Prime Minister gave a clarification over the 'arms deal'.

At a time when the peace process is yet to come to a conclusion an arms deal with India will be taken as declaration of war, the Maoist leader said.

Earlier today, speaking at the State Affairs Committee, Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal dismissed allegations that the government was preparing to strike an arms deal with India.

Describing the allegations as plain rumours, PM Nepal said the government would not make any move that would be against the peace process. nepalnews.com