Army HQ mightier than PM: Prachanda

Jhapa, July 28:

Maoist chairman Prachanda today said that the Nepali Army (NA) headquarters is “still more powerful than the Prime Minister.”

Prachanda was speaking at a press meet in Bha-drapur of Jhapa district.

Asked to explain the reason behind the Maoists’ objection to the deployment of army personnel of a particular battalion for their security, he said: “ We are not against the NA, but the NA has an anti-democratic background. Activities of the NA reflect that it is not

following the democratic practice. NA’s activities hint that it is more powerful than the prime minister.”

Prachanda, who was accompanied by leader Baburam Bhattarai, said they are in Jhapa to inspect the PLA sub-camp in Kamaljhora and acquire information about the loss caused in the district by floods and rains.

“It will be impossible to hold the constituent assembly elections if the eight parties do not move ahead unitedly,” he said.

“As there are different perspectives of the eight parties on monarchy, the monarchy has been hatching conspiracies in the guise of birthday celebrations of the king and his son,” he said.

Prachanda said that a team comprising leaders of the eight parties should go to the Tarai and make efforts to resolve the Tarai problem through talks. Pointing to the CPN-UML, he said, “Those forces claiming themselves to be leftists are found not to be in favour of leftist unity.”

Asked what kind of situation will prevail if the CA polls were not held, he said, “As

the date for the CA polls has been announced, all of us must move ahead thinking that the polls will be held.

If the polls are not held, there is no alternative left except to launch the Jana Andolan III.”