In a long and fiery speech against the opposition parties, Dahal, however, said that there is still a chance for the political parties to forge consensus and produce a new. "The chances of forging consensus are still not over. The Maoist party is still trying its best to reach an agreement. We can still go for one of the two options -- either reinstating the Constituent Assembly or holding fresh elections - to write the new constitution," Dahal said addressing a mass gathering in Kirtipur on Sunday. [break]
Stating that various sections of society were conspiring against to thwart the achievements of the People´s Movement in 2006, he urged the people to remain alert and prepared to fight such elements. "Those against the decision to transform the country into a secular and federal system are trying to turn the clock back. So be prepared to fight such elements,” he said.
He came down heavily on the major opposition parties Nepali Congress (NC) and CPN-UML, holding them responsible for CA´s failure and its subsequent demise. Dahal claimed that the CA was dissolved without producing the new constitution as NC and CPN-UML stood against identity-based federalism.
“One may give a thousand reasons behind the CA´s failure but the only reason for its failure is that parties couldn´t agree on the issue of federalism. A section of leaders in NC and UML were dead against the idea of identity-based federalism. The constitution couldn´t be promulgated due to the same reason,” he said. “They accepted federalism but not its essence.”
He said the NC and UML agreed to include the word federalism in the new constitution but were against giving rights to the people. He explained that the other parties were ready to name the capital as Bagmati province but after the Newar community. "So it is very clear and straight that CA saw its demise without producing the new constitution because NC and UML leaders strongly opposed the idea of identity-based federalism," he explained.
Applauding the locals of Kirtipur for their historic roles right from the time of Nepal´s unification some 250 years ago, he urged Newar communities in Kathmandu to keep on fighting until the plan of delineating Newa autonomous province is realized and other achievements such as secularism, proportional representation in state organs and federalism are institutionalized. "The movement for identity-based federalism should go on," he said.
Dahal also accused NC and UML of betraying him and his party by not keeping their "promise to agree on the disputes in constitution writing within couple of days after the Maoists leaders would help integrate former Maoist combatants into the security agencies."
He claimed they [Maoists] took a bold decision to integrate the former combatants even as there was strong protest within his party. He said NC and UML leaders cheated them by not agreeing on the contents of new constitution even at the time when the CA was in its deathbed. "People need to know this historic lie of NC and UML leaders," he said.
He also accused NC and UML leaders and the erstwhile CA Chairman Subas Nembang of stopping other parties from putting the disputed issues to vote in the full CA.
"NC and UML leaders clearly said that there will be a bloodbath in the CA if the disputed issues are floated in the full House for voting," he said. He argued that the opposition parties stood against putting the issues to vote sensing that there was a two-thirds majority in favor of identity-based federalism.
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