NEW DELHI:

Maoist supremo Prachanda was quoted as saying by the PTI news agency on Saturday that his men would not hesitate to take up arms again if the Nepalese government repressed its people. “As far as possible we are trying to resolve the crisis peacefully to empower the people, but if that doesn’t happen and again repression starts, we will have to take up the armed struggle again. We believe that this time such a situation will not arise because we have an understanding with the political parties,” he said.

Prachanda said he was willing to reorganise his rebel army. “We are ready to put our army under the United Nations or some other credible institution,” he said. “After a constituent assembly is elected, we can reorganise both the Nepalese army and the Maoists as per the decision of the constituent assembly,” he said.