Birgunj, February 23:

CPN Maoist chairman Prachanda said that his party will embrace the policies of globalisation and reforms up to the degree which benefits the nation.

Speaking at the interaction programme with the industrialists and businessmen here today, he said: “We do not stand against globalisation, but the liberty of choosing the projects run with foreign investment rests on people of Nepal.”

Clarifying that the projects would not be selected just for profit of the World Bank and Asian Development Bank, the Maoist chairman said the basis of their selection should be national interest.

He said: “Maoists are different today from yesterday. The industrialists should understand the Maoists from that perspective.” Nepal’s own investment will be encouraged on small and medium hydro-electricity projects while foreign investment will be invited for large projects,” he said.

Since the smuggling of goods into the country is rooted to corrupt bureaucracy, the corrupt employees will be sacked soon after the Maoists join the government, he said.

Saying that the corruption has increased the production cost, he said relationships between the workers and industrialists will turn cordial once corruption is rooted out.

He said that industrial revolution in the country should start by setting up industries in the hydro-power, tourism and herbs sectors and added that the Maoists will “nurture relationship with capitalism” but will uproot feudalism.

Maoist leader Dr Baburam Bhattarai said his party will impose land ownership ceilings, but no such thing will happen over capital investment.

Instruction to PLA men

NARAYANGARH: Prachanda on Friday instructed the PLA soldiers of the third Division at Jutepani not to leave the camp. The soldiers had begun to foray out of the camp since on Wednesday alleging that they were forced to look for daily bread as then government had failed to provide for them. Prachanda, who reached Chitwan on Friday, ordered the PLA’s third division soldiers in the main camp in presence of journalists. — HNS