KATHMANDU, SEPTEMBER 20

CPN (Maoist Centre) Chairman and former Prime Minister, Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda' has said the significance of declaring Nepal as a zone of peace has been increasing.

Receiving the memorandum submitted by the Zone of Peace Campaign established from the citizen level, leader Dahal opined that the time has come to push for the zone of peace proposal to protect the national autonomy, shielding Nepal from the onslaught of the world politics that is becoming hostile.

According to him, the zone of peace proposal could be an important agenda for saving the nation.

'There were opinions for and against this proposal during the Panchayat era due to the then political situation. The condition was such that no party could support it. But in the present changed political context and the world situation, the importance of zone of peace proposal is increasing for the protection of national independence,' the Maoist Centre Chair said.

Stating that preparations are being made within the party also regarding declaring Nepal as a zone of peace, party chairman Dahal said, 'I am for holding open discussion on this; we will come up with a clear view on this topic from the party itself.'

He shared that this issue could be taken as a proposal from this meeting as they are in preparation of central committee meeting.

Saying that it was necessary to forward it as zone of peace making Lumbini the main basis, Chair Dahal mentioned that starting a discussion from people's level on this issue was positive.

He also expressed commitment to provide support from the party in this campaign. Senior journalist of Dang, Narayan Prasad Sharma, is the chairperson of the campaign.

Earlier on Thursday, submitting the memorandum to Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, the campaign urged the PM Oli to raise this voice in the United Nations General Assembly.