Khanal, who keeps Maoists on a soft corner, said writing constitution and ensuring peace in the country was not possible by isolating the Maoists, while Oli, who is sharply critical of the former rebels ruled out any possibility of forming Maoist-headed government unless it transforms itself into a civilian organization.[break]
Both the leaders were addressing the inaugural session of the general convention of UML"s student wing, All Nepal National Free Student Union (ANNFSU), in Janakpur.
´The country has been trapped into a state of indecisive situation mainly due to leaders" tendency of not recognizing other parties" strength. There is no alternative to join hands with the UCPN (Maoist) for the sake of saving the nation,´ Khanal argued.
Indicating to Oli, who was at the same podium, Khanal urged the leaders not to push the country toward further confusion by repeatedly annoying the Maoist party that emerged as the largest party in the Constituent Assembly election.
´The Maoists have shown maximum flexibility in so far as the process of writing constitution and ensuring peace is concerned. I want to thank and appreciate them wholeheartedly for that,´ Khanal said.
He was of the view that the overnight changes seen in the Maoists should be welcomed without a shadow of doubt. ´However, if they again resort to the ultra-leftist path as in the past, then we should be ready to respond them accordingly,´ he said.
The UML chief said that the parties who fought together against the autocratic monarchial system need to stand united until the achievements are institutionalized.
However, Oli held the Maoists as responsible for creating major hurdles in forging national consensus and ending the peace process. He further said that other parties can"t even imagine forming a Maoist-headed government unless they transform the party into a civilian organization.
´We should rather form a majority government instead of accepting Maoist leadership in the new coalition without its transformation,´ Oli added.
UML Vice-Chairman Bamdev Gautam urged the leaders to be ready to unify all the leftist forces spread across the country. ´This has become necessary as no other than leftists will institutionalize the achievements attained in the political movements so far,´ he said.
Meanwhile, Vice-Chairman Ashok Rai, General Secretary Ishwar Pokharel and Secretary Shankar Pokharel, among other senior leaders, reached at the inaugural session. Oli, who flew to Janakpur in a helicopter, returned to Kathamandu after two-hours of stay at the town.
Meantime, ANNFSU leaders and cadres have intensified their campaign for electing new leadership of the organization for the next tenure. Soviet Dhakal, backed by the party"s establishment faction, is leading one panel while Madhav Dhungel, supported by Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal and Oli, is leading another panel.
According to ANNFSU members, a tough competition between the two panels is likely. The voting process will start on Monday.
Related story
State-owned media should not only sing praises of govt: Ministe...
