Narayangarh, September 4:

The parents of central-level leaders of the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoists) today said they were delighted by the announcement of unilateral ceasefire by the Maoists for three months. Talking to The Himalayan Times, Muktinath Dahal (77), the father of Maoist supremo Pushpa Kamal Dahal alias Prachanda, and Karna Bahadur Thapa (84) and Nanda Kumari Thapa (82), the parents of Maoists’ politburo member Ram Bahadur Thapa alias Badal, said they were happy to hear the news about the ceasefire as they hope it would pave the way to an end to the ongoing violence in the country. Muktinath said the government should reciprocate the ceasefire to protect the lives of civilians. He hoped the truce would provide an opportunity to the civilians to celebrate their great festivals, Dashain and Tihar, in peace.

“May peace prevail in the nation forever with the efforts of all,” he said. The father of two sons, Muktinath has not met or seen his eldest son, Prachanda, for the past 11 years. He is living alone at his residence at Bharatpur-6 after his younger son, along with his family, left for the UK for study two years ago. A widower for the past 11 years, he passes most of the time performing pujas. “There is the lack of development in the nation. All of us need to endeavour for the development of the nation and quit violence,” he said. Badal’s parents were also happy to hear the news. Stating that they knew about the ceasefire this morning, they said: “The news made us happy as the conflict has stopped for at three months. It would further delight us if we could see our son before us.” Nanda Kumari said: “I wish for an end to the conflict forever. May our son return home and I could die on his lap.”