Addressing a Maoist rally in New Baneshwar, Maoist Chairman Dahal had justified his remarks saying that several rounds of talks with the Nepali Congress and the CPN-UML had failed to yield results as their “puppet” government was dancing to the tune of India.
NC leader Krishna Prasad Sitaula, who is closely engaged in the ongoing peace process, said the remarks of Maoist Chairman Dahal were “depressing” and “provocative”. He said that the Maoists were hurling baseless allegations on political parties and the southern neighbor in order to hide their own mistakes.
Sitaula said that the Maoists have not been honest with their commitments even as they continue reiterating their commitment to peace and the new constitution. “The remarks are unfortunate for the people who are in favor of peace and political stability in the country,” he said, adding, “There is still time. We urge the Maoists to forge consensus.”
Chairman of Rastriya Janashakti Party Surya Bahadur Thapa termed the remarks “anti-national”. “I felt sorry to find him (Dahal) terming India as the master,” he said. “Such remark from a leader of his stature is an ignominy to Nepal.”
Thapa said that Dahal should have taken a firm stand and thrown a challenge had he sensed such interference from India. “But Dahal himself bowed down before Delhi,” he said, adding, “This has disclosed where and how the Maoists lived during the insurgency.”Chairman of Madhesi People´s Rights Forum (MPRF) Upendra Yadav said that inviting foreigners to resolve our own problems is against our national interest. Yadav, however, said that such emotionally-charged remarks would bear no meaning in the country´s politics.
NC Parliamentary Party leader Ram Chandra Poudel said the remarks of the top Maoist leader contradict his party´s action. While the Maoists have professedly launched the campaign to arouse nationalism, the party is talking about holding talks only with New Delhi, he said. “This is something contradictory.”
CPN-UML leader Raghuji Panta, who is also principal advisor to the prime minister, said it is an illusion on the part Maoists to see the current government as a “puppet”. “Political parties in the current government recognize that the real owners are Nepali people,” he said. The prime minister is duly elected by the majority votes of the people´s representatives in the legislature parliament. “If someone sees foreigners as the owner of the current government it is nothing but their illusion,” he added.
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