Dhangadhi, February 9:

CPN-Maoist Seti-Mahakali in-charge Lekhraj Bhatt aka Rakesh today said the revived Maoists’ revolutionary people’s council was different from the previous one.

Talking to reporters after the Maoists’ Seti-Mahakali Rajya Samiti meeting here, Rakesh said, “Since reviving the council neither have we summoned anyone to present himself or herself nor have we set up a parallel government. We

won’t repeat acts like holding courts or taking judicial decisions like old. Hence, this council is different.”

Rakesh said the council would act as a bridge between people and the government and make up for the absence of local bodies in districts. “It will not interfere in government work but act as a pressure group for public benefit,” he added.The council was revived keeping constituent assembly polls as the focal point, he said adding that it would also act as an umbrella group in the sectors of development and public projects to organise people and support them.

Rakesh denied the involvement of Maoists in the recent attack on Nepali Congress central member Dilendra Badu in Darchula district and complained the media had blown up the incident beyond proportion.

He alleged that NC Darchula district member Narendra Dhami opened fire and wounded a pro-Maoist civilian adding that the government had not provided help to the injured person yet for medical treatment.