PM pledges firm action
Kathmandu, March 24
Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli today said the government would not drag its feet while taking action against members of the Netra Bikram Chand-led Communist Party of Nepal who are engaged in unlawful activities.
The government on March 12 had banned activities of the outfit. Since then, it has cracked down on its activities, arresting a number of its senior leaders.
Oli today tried to justify these actions against the Chand-led group. He said these actions had to be taken after the government’s attempts to bring the leaders of the outfit to the negotiating table failed.
“The government will not pull the reverse gear now,” the PM told the last meeting of the Federal Parliament’s winter session.
The government had intensified action against the group after a bomb blast at the entrance of Ncell’s headquarters in Nakkhu, Lalitpur, killed one.
“We’ll not allow the group to violate laws by planting (homemade) bombs at hydropower plants, telephone towers and vehicles. We also won’t allow the group to
kill innocent people or launch extortion drives,” the PM said.
The government on March 14 issued a 35-day deadline to hand over illegal firearms — rifles and revolvers — and ammunition, after the group’s violent activities started destabilising peace in the country.
“We hope the Chand-led group will hand over weapons within the given timeframe,” the PM said. “If it does not, we know how to seize weapons from the group.”
Oli’s remarks come at a time when the government’s decision to act tough against the Chand-led group has not gone down well with some of the leaders of the ruling Nepal Communist Party (NCP), as well as the opposition Nepali Congress.
Bijaya Kumar Gachhadar, NC’s deputy parliamentary party leader, said it was not right to go all out against the Chand-led group.
“The government used force against Maoists in the past, but it did not solve the problem. The best option is to hold dialogue with the group,” Gachhadar told the Parliament, as he charged the government with failing to maintaining peace and order in the country. He urged the government to start negotiations with the group as it did with the separatist force led by CK Raut, which has now renounced demands for a separate Madhes.
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