KATHMANDU, Feb 13: Countering the arguments of opposition parties, UCPN(Maoist) Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal claimed on Tuesday that the Interim Constitution says a Supreme Court justice can lead an election government.
Addressing a mass gathering at the Khulamanch on the occasion of the 18th anniversary of the Maoists´ people´s war, he urged people to read the constitution. However, he did not say which article of the Insterim Constitution he was refering to.
Dahal said his party proposed a sitting chief justice for PM as a last resort.
Reassuring his party cadres, he claimed that he has not abandoned the agenda of the people´s war.
UCPN (Maoist) celebrations at Tundikhel. (Photo: Dipesh Shrestha)
Dahal tried repeatedly to persuade party cadres and others that his party´s political line is revolutionary and suitable to the situation.
"Our political line is revolutionary and it can complete the revolution," added Dahal.
He tried to satisfy party cadres and others as to why his party handed over the PLA and its weapons. To justify his party´s shifting to the parliamentary mode, he referred to how the communists were finished off in Malaya, Peru, Burma and Turkey while following the traditional path of revolution.
"We will complete the revolution in a new way, making our way into the homes of the reactionary forces," added Dahal. Refering indirectly to Malaya and Peru, he said the Baidya-led Maoists are finished if they follow people´s war.
He praised the Nepal Army and police, mentioning that they had good relations with the ex-PLA and security forces.
UCPN (Maoist) leaders at Tundikhel. (Photo: Dipesh Shrestha)
Also addressing the gathering, Vice-chairman and Prime minister Baburam Bhattarai claimed that he was ready to debate the articles of the constitution that say an apex court justice can lead an election government.
"I am not a student of law. But I can debate each single article as I was on the constitution draft committee," said Bhattarai. He too claimed that the constitution says a justice can head an election goverment.
Countering opposition party criticisms and their demands for the government´s resignation, he said the government was formed through election by the people.
"We are not in government through anybody´s mercy or love," added Bhattarai.
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CPN-Maoist Chairman Mohan Baidya on Tuesday warned Nepali Congress and CPN-UML leaders that his party would not allow them into the villages if they revived cases from the insurgency period.
Addressing a tea party organized by the Newa state committee at Bhrikutimandap on the occasion of the 18th anniversary of the Maoists´ people´s war, he urged them to settle all issues through talks among the parties.
He said his party would not accept a decision of just the four parties --UCPN (Maoist), Nepali Congress, CPN-UML and the Madhesi front.
CPN-Maoist Chairman Mohan Baidya addressing the program at Bhrikutimandap. (Photo: Dipesh Shrestha)
He said that the Nepali Congress and other parties have violated the comprehensive peace accord and other agreements.
"In reviving cases from the insurgency period, the reactionary forces have been trying to finish off the Maoists," thundred Baidya.
Lambasting the UCPN (Maoist), he said it wanted to suppress his party by forcing it to go for armed conflict.
"The other [Dahal-led] Maoists also want to suppress us in cooperation with the reactionary forces. They have been asking us when we will take up arms," said Baidya.
He mentioned that the arms are connected with the people´s livelihood and the issues of people like Dalits, women, janajatis and the poor.
"Guns are linked to the problems of the people and they will be rised if these issues are not resolved," added Baidya.
"We will carry the flag of revolution until the completion of that revolution. We sacrificed in the past. The new janabadi [people´s democratic] revolution would not end until we fulfill the dream of the martyrs, the disappeared, the injured, the people."
He mentioned that the Maoist people´s war was launched to free the country from expansionist and imperialist forces and bring a new janabadi [people´s democratic] system. He said the agenda of the people´s war has not been fulfilled and his party would keep upholding its legacy.
He termed as a ´farce´ the ruling Maoists and other parties reciting the rubric of elections, saying they have already failed, and will fail, to hold elections.
Indicating the UCPN (Maoist), he repeated that they betrayed the people´s war, and their leadership was ´revisionist´. He also said that he was compelled to from a new party because of the anti-national activities of Dahal and Bhattarai.
"Dahal and Bhattarai not only betrayed the people´s war but also abandoned the issue of federalism," added Baidya.
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