KATHMANDU, Oct 1: Ruling Federal Democratic Republican Alliance (FDRA) has decided to put off its scheduled plan to hold rallies across the country after Madhes-based parties, that are part of the alliance, expressed strong reservation over the protest program.
UCPN (Maoist) Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal, who heads the 21-party alliance, formally informed the decision at the meeting of three major parties and the United Democratic Madhesi Front (UDMF) on Monday afternoon. Dahal also asked opposition parties that are currently busy making preparation to unveil a joint protest against the government to put off their plan.
UCPN (Maoist) Spokesperson Agni Sapkota said they took the decision in view of the urgency to create an environment of national consensus. "We took the decision thinking that any protests would seriously hinder consensus efforts among parties," he said, adding: "We have also asked the opposition parties to put off all their protest programs."[break]
Sapkota said it would not augur well to go for rallies as the 21 parties on Sunday assured President Ram Baran Yadav that they would forge consensus on future political course including the formation of national consensus government by mid-October. "Opposition parties have also taken our request positively to shun such activities," he further said.
A meeting of the FDRA held last week had decided to hold mass gatherings in five major cities across the country for what the ruling parties called to apprise people of current political situation and their preparations to hold fresh Constituent Assembly election´.
The decision of the ruling alliance to put off their scheduled rallies came after a meeting of the UDMF on Monday morning decided not to support to the proposed rallies, arguing that the protest rallies would push the parties towards further polarization. "This is the time for consensus and all parties need to be working together. This is why we decided to ask other parties in the ruling alliance to put off the programs," said Laxman Lal Karna, vice chairman of Sadbhawana Party.
UDMF insiders said senior leaders of Madhesi People´s Rights Forum-Democratic, Tarai Madhes Democratic Party and Sadbhawana Party were averse to the idea of joining hands with Maoists in the protest programs. "We joined hands with the Maoist on issue related to federalism. This does not mean that we should blindly support the Maoists in all activities," argued a senior leader of the MRPF-D.
While the TMDP Chairman Mahantha Thakur did not participate in any of FDRA meeting, senior leaders of other parties including Sadbhawana Party Chairman Rajendra Mahato were also not happy about dancing to Maoist tune. "We fought against the Maoists during Madhes movement. There is no point in supporting the Maoists all the time," the leader further said.
Opposition parties including Nepali Congress and CPN-UML had taken strong exception to the protest announced by the parties in power, arguing that this was something very unusual in a democratic system.
NC Central Working Committee member Dr Minendra Rijal, who is also head of the party´s Publicity Department, said they have not taken any decision to withdraw the protest programs yet."But since we have committed to the president that we would reach consensus by mid-October, we will see if negotiations would resolve the problem," he said. "We will be forced to take to the streets if the ruling parties remained adamant in their stance."
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