Kathmandu, March 12:

Leaders of the seven-party alliance today stressed that the 12-point understanding reached between the parties and the Maoists on November 22 was intended to bring the Maoists to the political mainstream.

Ruling out that the understanding was an instance of seven parties following Maoist agenda, the leaders addressing a programme at the Reporters’ Club however said the bringing Maoists to the mainstream was not possible unless they agree to lay down their arms. Nepali Congress leader Ram Baran Yadav said the parties are busy in another round of informal talks to bring the Maoists to the democratic atmosphere.

“They (Maoists) will not be able to drag us into their agenda. We will never follow the politics of violence,” he said. He also said that the parties have not even thought of making a parallel government as advocated by the Maoists.

“Our total effort will concentrate on making the Maoists lay down their arms. Without it, a joint movement with the Maoists is impossible,” he said.

Rajendra Pandey of the CPN-UML said talks between the parties and the Maoists to effectively implement the 12-point understanding were on but he refused to divulge the details on the venue and participants of such talks.

He also revealed that there is a difference of opinion among the parties for calling the Maoists for a ceasefire.

Dr Minendra Rijal of the Nepali Congress (Democratic) said talks with Maoists were meant to bring them to peaceful and democratic path, not for carrying arms by the parties. “We can talk with the King only if he agrees for an election to an constituent assembly. Talks with any force which does not agree on constituent assembly are not possible,” he said.

Dipak Bohara, joint general secretary of the RPP, said the King has shown positive interest in holding talks with the parties but the ministers are constantly trying to ruin the atmosphere with formal or informal statements.

Bohara, who met with the King in Pokhara today, said, “In my meeting with the King, I proposed a way out - talks with the parties, talks with the Maoists, formation of an all-party government and finally parliamentary elections,” he said. But he did not disclose the king’s reaction. He said if the parties can hold unconditional talks with the Maoists, they should not raise any condition for talks with the King.

Kuber Sharma, the leader of the Hariyali Party Nepal, said there is possibility of talks between the King and the Maoists as nothing is impossible in politics.

‘It’s the base for restoring democracy’

Dhading: Leaders of the seven agitating parties said the agreement reached between the seven-party alliance and the Maoists is the foundation for the restoration of democracy in the country. Addressing a joint gathering organised by the alliance at Dharke bazaar of Dhading yesterday, NP Saud, central member of Nepali Congress (Democratic) said: “Anyone who goes against the agreement would be laid off forever.”

The programme was organised as part of the alliance preparation of a ‘grand protest’ programme scheduled for April 8. Participant leaders said the alliance of the seven parties would not break until democracy was restored in the country. They accused the palace of hatching a “conspiracy” to break the alliance.

Saying that the former Panchas got chance to be active due to the mistakes committed by the political parties during the 12 years of democracy, CPN-UML central leader Raghuji Panta said: “We will not make any agreement with any force unless democracy was restored.”

Joint general secretary of Nepali Congress Dr Ram Sharan Mahat, Nawaraj Subedi of Janamorcha Nepal and other leaders addressed the programme. A rally marched through the main thoroughfares of the bazaar before converging into the gathering. — HNS