KATHMANDU, APRIL 14

Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal today said that attempts were being made to reverse the current political changes.

'Now, we are ministers and prime minister, so we can say that the forces seeking reversal of changes might not succeed, but if we do not exercise caution, if we do not realise our responsibilities, and if we do not fight, a difficult situation may arise,' the PM said and added that he wanted to make it clear to the party rank and file that situation was not easy for them. The PM's remarks were aimed at the rise of feudal forces and forces that do not own up the federal republican order institutionalised by the new constitution.

The PM said attempts were being made to reverse the changes guaranteed by the new constitution. He was referring to the federal democratic republican system introduced in the new constitution which was framed by the Constituent Assembly.

Addressing a gathering of party leaders and cadres at party headquarters in Paris Danda, he urged them to counter the counter-revolutionary steps and designs. 'We are not speaking up (against counter-revolutionary designs) or we are speaking up very little. Many people tell me that Maoists are not saying anything.

This should not be the case,' the PM added. The PM said that if all CPN-MC leaders and cadres spoke out against anti-change forces, that would help the party achieve its goals.

'We are still a strong force and the only thing bad about us is we have lost our zeal, which we need to revive,' the PM added.

The PM said that his party needed to change the way it functioned.

'The era when one could become leader after getting blessings from the party's top leader has gone. Now we will have to adopt a new method whereby only people who are popular can scale the ladder of the party's higher structure,' he added.

The PM said that in the past some leaders got elected in the party structures as they were favoured by party leaders, but that time had gone.

'This is the reason why there is a disconnect between the party and the people, the PM said and added that he was thinking of adopting a conference-based model whereby leaders at all levels of the party structure would be chosen by the cadres. Those who win the hearts and minds of the party cadres will be leaders,' the PM added.

The PM said, 'I have taken a vow to make the government successful no matter what the difficulties are. Those leaders and cadres who were politically appointed could be a big help to the people if they gave good impression about service delivery. If at least people can say that this office bearer tried his/her best, that will be a big thing for us,' he added.