The Maoist-called indefinite strike began with the shutdown of transportation, educational institutes and industries on Sunday after a meeting of the three parties failed to produce a consensus.
Speaking at the rally to mark International Labour Day on Saturday, Maoist Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal said the people will not leave the street until the government is removed.
Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal has refused to step down. Addressing the nation Saturday evening, Nepal asked the demonstrators to find a solution through compromise.
Meanwhile, news outlets have reported that Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has thrown his support behind the current coalition, saying he has full confidence in Nepal’s government.
Dahal has said Indian support for the current government would be a mistake. “If India thinks that by backing Madhav Kumar Nepal, it will make everything all right; if it thinks that it now holds the command of Nepal Army and the Army will do whatever it says; and that the Maoists want to kill Nepali people, then the Indian leaders are making a mistake. We appeal to them not to make this mistake," he said on Saturday.