KATHMANDU: Former Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai, who recently quit the UCPN-Maoist, held an interaction with the entrepreneurs of private sector at Hotel Annapurna in the Capital on Friday.

During the programme, he stressed on opening the border points of China to reduce the trade deficit with the southern neighbour.

Bhattarai further said that the private sector should be given a high priority for the economic development of the country.

"Newly promulgated constitution is the fruit of 70 years of revolution," he said, adding, "Economic revolution should be started for the development of the country now."

Hence, capitalism should be adopted for the same, like China, he added.

Moreover, Bhattarai said that he is willing to form a new political platform to take the country towards the path of development.

Saying that economic and political sectors are interrelated, Bhattarai urged the private sector to focus more on economic revolution.

Bhattarai made it clear that he was not against the constitution as interpreted by the people.

Infact, he said that the ongoing trumoil in Tarai should be ironed out through talks.

He further went on to say that the government should address the genuine demands of the Madhesi people.

The fire burning in Tarai after the promulgation of constitution was merely an 'aftershock', Bhattarai stated.

Former President Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industries Pradeep Kumar Shrestha and Confederation of Nepalese Industries President Narendra Basnet opposed use of the term 'socialism' included in the Preamble of the new constitution.

Bhattarai, however, said that businesspersons and traders needed not to fear the term.