Kathmandu, June 21:

Chairman of the CPN (Maoist) Prachanda today claimed that true power of the state does not rest with the Prime Minister, but with the army.

He also accused the government of not taking any decisive step to hold elections to a constituent assembly, establish a federal republic and put an end to the culture of impunity.

Addressing an interaction on “Disappeared Citizens and Human Rights”, organised by the Society of the Families of Disappeared Citizens at the Siddartha Banasthali Institute, Balaju, Prachanda further said: “The agreement reached on Baishakh-11’’ was a betrayal and historic mistake.

He said there is still doubt over whether constituent assembly elections will be conducted in the month of Mangsir.

“In the six years of the People’s War before the royal massacre, 1,600 people lost their lives and 50 persons disappeared. But over 13,000 people lost their lives and over 1,000 people disappeared after king Gyanendra came to power,” he said.

“Conspiracies will be hatched to seize people’s rights till the power of the state remains in the army office and Narayanhiti.” Parliamentarian Radheshyam Adhikari said joint efforts are needed to put an end to the culture of impunity.

At the programme held under the chairmanship of member of the Society Sharmila Tripathi, parliamentarian Sabitri Gurung Dura and coordinator of the society, Yekraj Bhandari, urged the government to take action against human rights violators.

According to the International Red Cross, around 960 people have still been missing in Nepal. However, the society says that 1,200 people have been missing.