LTTE joins armed

Rajbiraj: Liberation Tigers of Tarai Eelam, an armed outfit operational in the southern plains, joined the alliance of four Tarai outfits on Friday. Earlier on July 30, Madhes Mukti Tigers, Janatantrik Tarai Mukti Morcha-Rajan, Tarai Samyukta Janakranti Party Nepal and Madhesi Virus Killers had formed a working unity. All the five five groups had sat for talks with the erstwhile Maoist-led government. Speaking at a press conference here, LTTE talks team coordinator Ram Lochan Thakur aka Swamiji said the best option for them at present was to forge unity. Stating that several underground outfits were ready to join the peace process, Swamiji said peace would prevail in Tarai if the government presented itself honestly before them. — HNS

Govt clear on

Dhankuta: CPN-UML general secretary Ishwor Pokharel said on Friday the primary duty of the UML-led government was to draft the new statute on time and to lead the peace process to a logical conclusion. Inaugurating a party cadres' training in Pakhribas, Pokharel said, "There is no alternative to the UML-led government as no other power equation is possible due to the extremist ideology and conduct of the Unified CPN-Maoist." "As the Maoists are still guided by the ideology of arms and anarchy, consensus among parties is a far cry," he said. "The peace process remains hindered due to the former rebels' legacy of the insurgency." Pointing to the planned agitation of the Maoists, Pokharel said anarchic and criminal activities would be controlled under the government's integrated security plan. —HNS

DPM calls for unity

Biratnagar: Deputy Prime Minister and chairman of Madhesi Janaadhikar Forum-Loktantrik, Bijay Kumar Gachhadar, today called on all the political parties to unite on the issues of national interest. Speaking at a press meet here, Gachhadar said his party was ready to join hands with other parties over such issues. He said that the agitation launched by the Unified CPN-Maoist in the name of national government was meaningless. "The UCPN-M is demanding the formation of a national government under its leadership when they already failed to lead the same. We can simply turn the incumbent government into a national government," he said. DPM Gachhadar said that the Maoist had failed to run the government when it had the chance. "The UCPN-M had the chance and such opportunities aren't available time and again," he added. Referring to the apex court verdict on Vice President Paramananda Jha to retake the oath in Nepali, he said the apex court verdict had hurt the sentiment of the Madhesi people. Stating that the vice president should be allowed to take the oath in his mother tongue, he claimed that the court had been politicised. In another context, he said that the nation had failed to materialise Arun III Hydel Project due to political games of the past. He said that there would be no room for politics in developmental activities now on. — HNS