Dahal says Bhattarai won't step down

HIMALAYAN NEWS SERVICE

KATHMANDU: Unified CPN-Maoist Pushpa Kamal Dahal has warned of danger of counter-revolution which, he said, can be averted only by creating a broader front of federalist forces.

Addressing a two-day all-party meet called by Sadbhawana Party, Dahal said the status-quoits were hell-bent on stopping federalism, and therefore, all marginalised communities, including the indigenous nationalities, Madhesis and Dalits, needed to be united to foil anti-federalist forces' bid.

Dahal maintained that the current tussle was between those seeking changes and those rejecting them.

In an oblique reference to the Nepali Congress and CPN-UML, Dahal said those forces that had accepted the agendas of republican order, federalism and secularism in the 12-point agreement had done so out of compulsion rather than their conviction. He said Girija Prasad Koirala knew all the forward-looking agendas very well which the anti-federalists forces did not oppose when he was alive due to his stature.

“Accepting the republican order, secularism and federalism, may not be the NC and UML’s priority, but for the marginalised communities, these are the fundamental issues,” said Dahal, adding that a new constitution should be promulgated either through a revived Constituent Assembly or a new CA.

“Those who reluctantly accepted the forward-looking agendas were the forces that had been saying till the last moment that the parliamentary forces and the king should unite. These were the forces that came to join hands after they were kicked out by then king,” Dahal added that the current political crisis could be resolved only if the political parties picked up the thread just from there where the federalism talks had broken down and settled all issues together.

“A piecemeal solution will not work. Now genuine efforts to draft a constitution through a round-table conference or a commission will only be acceptable,” Dahal argued. “There is no possibility of Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai resigning from his post. A caretaker government does not resign. His resignation will invite disaster.”

SP Chairman Rajendra Mahato said a constitution without federalism was beyond people’s imagination. He added that the current political crisis could be resolved only when consensus was reached between both the political parties and civil society organisations.

Mahato, however, regretted that the United Democratic Madhesi Front could not live up to the expectation of Madhesi people in securing bulk entry of Madhesi youth into the Nepali Army and citizenship rights for the children of citizens by birth.

Human rights activist Malla K Sundar said a constitution should be framed only through a CA or else they would not accept it.

Columnist CK Lal said 21st century is the era of identity-based federalism which requires a consensus not only of the political parties but also of other stakeholders, including civil society organisations.

Prof Krishna Hachhethu said those who were talking of referendum on the issue of single identity-based federalism were basically against federalism and if they kept arguing, they should also be ready to hold referendum on 22 districts of Madhes on the issue of Single Madhes Pradesh.

Tarai Madhes Democratic Party Vice-chairman Brikhesh Chandra Lal said the four years’ exercise of CA had not gone to waste because it had galvanised unity among all the marginalised communities of Nepal on the basis of which they could easily win their rights. Writer Khagendra Sangraula said the President should not take any illegal step to dislodge the prime minister or else it could plunge the county into chaos.