PM's statement insufficient: Prachanda

PM's statement insufficient: Prachanda


KATHMANDU, Feb 1 - A day after Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala's address to the nation, Maoist Chairman Prachanda Thursday said that the prime minister's address was insufficient to resolve the Terai crisis.
"Our party wants to make it clear that the prime minister's remarks are insufficient over the issue of a federal system of governance, proportional electoral system and a republican setup," said Prachanda at a press conference organized to make his party's view public on the Madhes issue and others in the capital today.

He said that the demands like formation of a federal democratic system of government, proportional electoral system and immediate announcement of a republic, put forward by the Madhesi people are "genuine" and that his party supports those demands.

He added that the Maoists have not given up their political demands of federal governance system, democratic republican set up and proportional electoral system, which he said are interconnected and accused some organizations of trying to distort the CPN-M's image.

"During brainstorming sessions with the seven parties, the CPN-M did struggle to convince them about its agendas, however, later we agreed for the time being so as to raise the issue again during the CA elections," said Prachanda.

The former rebel leader, however, said, "Some forces, who have backed the absolute monarchy, and some foreign reactionary forces with their infiltration in the Madhesi movement, have attempted to disturb the timely holding of the constituent assembly (CA) elections."

He said, "America is openly engaged in disturbing the constituent assembly elections. The ambassador (US) is involved in provocation (against CA elections)," adding, "Even some Indian Hindu extremists, who do not want to see the end of monarchy in Nepal, are involved in stirring the Terai unrest."

Accusing the seven-party alliance government of conspiring against the timely holding of the CA elections and failing to take action against the king and royalists as recommended by the Rayamajhi Commission, Prachanda said that his party would be forced to stage protests "if the seven-party alliance doesn’t bring positive changes in these matters."

Stating that the right to self-governance is the fundamental requirement of a federal set up, Prachanda stated that the CPN-M was deeply concerned over the SPA's "caretaker" government's "sluggish and inactive approach" towards holding CA elections.

Apologizing for the weaknesses and mistakes committed by his party cadres in the Lahan incident, he said that his party would soon make public the report on the incident in which a protester from the agitating Madhesi People's Rights Forum was killed two weeks ago.

Prachanda also said that his party believes in peaceful demonstrations and that the CPN-M would be organizing peaceful rallies across Terai and that his party would concentrate on exposing those regressive forces that have instigated violence and unrest.

Prachanda added that he wanted to appeal to all to remain alert and cautious as "some regressive forces were trying to disrupt the communal harmony and instigate violence."