KATHMANDU, Nov 12: Nepali Congress president Sushil Koirala on Monday said the opposition movement would eventually thwart ambitions of the Maoists to impose ´totalitarian rule´ in the country´.
Koirala was speaking during a function organized by Nepal Tamang Sangh Kathmandu Liaison Committee in the capital Kathmandu to exchange greetings.[break]
Koirala told the gathering that the opposition movement was aimed at establishing sustainable peace and stability in the country after ridding the country of fear, threats and ´totalitarianism´ of the Maoists.
Koirala also refuted allegations of UCPN (Maoists) that NC was against federalism. He argued that late NC leader Girija Prasad Koirala had himself signed the proposal to bring federalism in the country.
Koirala said that movement of April, 2006 had brought about awareness among the people from all ethnicity, groups and geographical regions about their rights and identity. “It is the responsibility of NC to institutionalize the achievements made through the movement,” he added.
Speaking at the same gathering, NC youth leader Gagan Thapa clarified that NC had not taken to the streets for prime ministerial berth, but to ensure stability of democracy and fresh election. He added that both Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai and Maoist Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal were not serious towards politics of consensus.
“Prime Minister Bhattarai is ready even to sell the country if he gets a chance to stay in power indefinitely. And Maoist Chairman Dahal is ready to become witness to such a situation,” he said. “Since it is the professed policy of the Maoists to capture state powers through government, parliament and the streets, other parties need to be cautious of this,” he further said.
NC Kathmandu District Committee President Bhimsen Das Pradhan criticized the Maoists for spreading rumors that NC was against federalism.
Former lawmaker Tirtha Man Dangol argued that they have a bigger responsibility to safeguard democracy at the moment than to ensure identity of various ethnic and caste groups. He argued that the movement launched by the opposition was aimed at safeguarding the hard-earned democracy in the country.