Kathmandu, May 12:

Maoist supremo Prachanda today said the land seized by the Maoists during insurgency would be returned to the rightful owners but the same would not be allowed to be sold off before the constituent assembly polls were held.

Addressing a function in the capital today, Prachanda did not say when or under what circumstances would the land be returned to the rightful owners.

He said had the Maoist fighters come out of the cantonments, it would be very tough for “the rest of us to work.”

He said this in response to allegations that Maoist outfit had allowed the fighters to come out in the form of cadres of the Young Communist League.

“They are in the camps hoping that the republic will be declared,” Prachanda said.

Elsewhere, Maoist leader Agni Sapkota said the Nepali Congress, along with six other parties, were in favour of retaining the monarch in ceremonial form. “The seven parties are not yet ready for declaring the country a republic,” Sapkota said at a programme in the capital.