Nepalese Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba today offered to hold 'secret talks' with Maoist rebels who are spearheading a violent movement against the monarchy, and said efforts would be made to hold the dialogue before the general elections are held in April 2005. 

The government wanted 'secret talks with Maoists' as 'whenever they have been held openly, they have failed,' said Deuba.

Asserting that his government stood by multi-party democracy and constitutional monarchy, he said, 'We are not going to compromise on this, come what may,' in a reference to the Maoist agitation against the monarchy.

ALSO SEE: Death of a monarch

He said the government was trying to initiate talks with Maoists before the general election in April, according to a release from the British Broadcasting Corporation.

Deuba, who is scheduled to pay a five-day visit to India from September 9, is expected to discuss the Maoist insurgency and various bilateral and international issues. Apart from calling on President A P J Abdul Kalam, he is likely to hold talks with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, United Progressive Alliance chairperson Sonia Gandhi and other leaders. This would be his first official visit since he took over office three months ago.

The visit comes in the wake of renewed violence in several parts of Nepal and the Maoist-imposed economic blockade of the capital Kathmandu, which entered its fourth day today.

Denying that the Maoists enjoyed public support, Deuba said, 'People don't support them, they fear them; if they are so popular, I urge them to come and join the political mainstream and fight elections.'