Yechuri sees no role for UNMIN post-July 23

Kathmandu, May 2:

Visiting politburo member of the CPI (M) Sitaram Yechuri said today that it was up to

the Nepali people and political parties to decide on who should lead the post-election government.

Yechuri, who was one of the members of the now-defunct Indo-Nepal Solidarity Committee formed to support the democratic movement in Nepal during the Jana Andolan II, said poll results showed the Nepali people wanted “change as well as a consensus government”.

“The government should be formed as per the people’s mandate. You cannot

manufacture the people’s mandate and all should respect the people’s verdict. But the constitution should be drafted on the basis of consensus. We hope that the Nepali people and the political parties will write a new constitution unitedly,” Yechuri said at a programme at the Reporters’ Club.

He said his visit to Nepal was to extend Indian people’s best wishes, solidarity with Nepal’s political parties and to congratulate the government for successfully holding the CA election.

“Two-and-a-half-years ago, we had arrived here to express our solidarity with the Nepali people’s movement for democracy. We had then warned that the present king might be the last king if he did not correct himself,” Yechuri said. He reiterated that the Indian people and the government will respect the decision to be taken by the Nepali people about their political future.

He said there was doubts on the success of the peace process two years ago, and many had suspected the government’s ability to hold the CA polls. “Now, we believe that Nepali people will be able to establish a democratic republic and the parties will be able to resolve problems by getting together,” Yechuri said.

He said India and Nepal should have a look at the 1950’s Nepal-India Friendship Treaty only after a new government is formed under the new constitution.

Asked what sort of message the CA polls in Nepal would give to the Indian communists waging ‘People’s War’ in several Indian states when the Maoists are poised to form a new government, Yechuri said, “They may learn a lesson from the historic change in Nepal. They may learn that even an armed group can emerge as a major political force through peaceful means.”

Asked to comment on India’s stance on UNMIN’s role beyond July 23, the date when its mandate expires, Yechuri said the presence of the UN body will not be required beyond that date, as the new government will be able to settle the issues of the management of arms and armies.

Yechuri also met PM GP Koirala, Prachanda and Dr Baburam Bhattarai of the CPN-Maoist, Madhav Nepal and JN Khanal of the CPN-UML, Madhesi leaders and discussed the post-election political scenario. But he declined to say whether he suggested the Nepali Congress and UML leaders to join the government to be headed by the Maoists.