Himalayan News Service

Kathmandu, April 5:

Political analyst Prof Krishna Khanal today opined there was a “tactical alignment” between King Gyanendra the Maoists.Addressing an interaction on political problems and solutions, Khanal said, “The Maoist movement is not an independent one; various forces, national and international, are fueling the rebels. There must be a ‘tactical alignment’ between the two gun-forces of the country.” Khanal added that any ruler with dictatorial tendencies would necessarily create forces like the Maoists to spell a threat in the country so as to retain power in his grip even while gaining support and sympathy of the international community.

The analyst pointed out that the King had been playing it cool even though the Maoists were demanding a republican system for the past eight years. Now, when the democrats and political parties had begun demanding the same the King has unleashed unprecedented suppression.

According to him, late King Birendra was also looking for his place in politics. The present King, however, had created a vacuum in the whole system. “It is time the people made a political framework suitable for them and the country. If the king fits in there, it is okay. If he doesn’t, people should bid farewell to him,” Khanal stressed. The professor also advocated a federal system for Nepal which would provide room for each religious, linguistic and ethnic community.

Pradip Giri, central committee member of Nepali Congress (Democratic) urged the youth to prepare for a movement for Constitutional Assembly, federal system and reservation.

Another central committee member, Manmohan Bhattarai, said the country would drift towards an uncertain future in the absence of a new Constitution to address the country’s ethno-nationalism through the Constitutional Assembly.

Human rights activist, Kapil Shrestha, pointed out the presence of the State was limited to headquarters, and calling for election would be like putting the cart before the horset. “If the government succeeds in conducting the ‘ritual’ of election, it will be even less flexible than the referendum of 1980,” he said.