Parliament will be obstructed until disrespectful remarks against Maoist movement are corrected: Dahal

Published On: September 14, 2024 07:50 PM NPT By: Binod Subedi

BIRATNAGAR, Sept 14: Chairman of the CPN (Maoist Center), Pushpa Kamal Dahal, has stated that parliament will remain obstructed until “disrespectful remarks” against the decade-long armed Maoist movement are rectified.

Speaking to reporters at Biratnagar Airport on Saturday, Dahal criticized the remarks made by the UML leadership, asserting that they attempt to dishonor the Maoist movement, contrary to the core principles and spirit of the Constitution and party consensus. He emphasized that the obstruction in parliament would continue until these statements were corrected.

“The UML leadership’s comments, which aim to belittle and distort the Maoist movement, contradict the constitutional interpretation of the Maoist people's war. Our protest will persist until these remarks are amended,” Dahal said.

The parliament session was adjourned on September 11, following objections from the Maoist Center, after Speaker Devraj Ghimire’s clarification that “violence” was not deemed unparliamentary and would remain in the record. The Maoist Center continued to insist on the term’s removal, leading to a disruption of the meeting. Maoist Center Chief Whip Hit Raj Pandey emphasized that the federal parliament secretariat should follow the constitution and laws.

The protest was sparked by CPN-UML Lawmaker Yogesh Bhattarai’s use of the term “violence” in reference to the Maoist insurgency during the HoR session on August 28, which the Maoist Center argued was against parliamentary norms.

On another note, Dahal expressed his belief that the Nepali Congress and the UML would eventually refrain from their attempt to remove the Deputy Speaker. He added, “Perhaps they themselves will back down from the issue of removing the Deputy Speaker.”

When asked by journalists about the possibility of retiring from politics, Dahal firmly responded that true politicians remain in politics as long as they live, and even beyond death, in a philosophical sense.

Dahal also mentioned that he has proposed appointing officials to all vacant positions at the constitutional commissions simultaneously. He expressed hope that appointments to these positions will occur soon.