Dhangadhi, February 7:

Former prime minister and chairman of the Nepali Congress (Democratic) Sher Bahadur Deuba has urged those Maoist People’s Liberation Army (PLA) soldiers, who are still in villages, to go to the camps established for them. Deuba made this remark while inaugurating the 11th Kailali district convention of the Nepal Students’ Union (D) here today.

“Although Maoist chairman Prachanda has told the PLA to go to the barracks, PLA soldiers are still found in many villages. This way, the constituent assembly polls cannot be free of fear. The Maoist PLA soldiers who have entered villages on different pretexts should go to the camps earmarked for them,” Deuba said.

Saying that the genuine demands of the Madhesi community should be considered, Deuba said his party has also floated the idea of a proportionate federal state system. He claimed that from the beginning the Nepali Congress (Democratic) was committed to a proportionate electoral system and a federal state system. The genuine problems of the Terai people should be solved through dialogue, he added.

Deuba said he has always been for the re-unification of the divided Congress. The youths have played a significant role in bringing democracy to this stage, he said and added that they should now work to strengthen it.

Central member of the Nepali Congress-D and president of Nepal Tarun Dal Bal Krishna Khand said arms cannot affect people’s beliefs. Central member of the Nepali Congress-D Dr Minendra Rijal and the member of interim parliament Khemraj Bhatta Mayalu also aired their views on the occasion. The programme was chaired by district president of the Nepal Students’ Union (D) Pushpa Kumar Shahi.