The Maoist chairman put forward such views while speaking at a function organized in Thawang, Rolpa,to commemorate the 16th anniversary of the "People´s War." [break]
“The constitution drafting deadline was extended under the pressure from the people last year. If the CA´s task could not be accomplished in the next three months, people might become ready to extend the deadline by two months or so,” said Dahal.
This is the first time that a top party leader hinted at the possibility of CA deadline extension, which will expire on May 28, 2011.
The Maoist chairman, however, stated that his party is making preparation for a “people´s revolt” as the constitution drafting is falling prey to conspiracy.
“We are making final preparations for a revolt to win the world. We have a great mission to accomplish. I came here in this village to ask the 30 million Nepalis to rise up in revolt,” he said.
The Maoist chairman, accompanied by party hard-line leader Netra Bikram Chand, reached the remote village of Thawang by helicopter Sunday morning.
Dahal justified the party decision to revolt as "conspiracies are afoot" to derail the peace process and drafting of a “people´s constitution”.
Whipping up the masses, the Maoist chairman said that the Maoist team came to Thawang to tap the "people´s power" to steer the revolution to its logical end.
“We will return to Kathamndu with your power and fight off the foreign stooges hell-bent on derailing the peace process,” he said explaining why the Maoist team came to the far-flung village, which fell under the party´s “liberated zone” during the time of insurgency.
“The ´goons´ have been terrorized after we embarked on a journey to Thawang,” he said.
According to Dahal, the Maoists have already driven away local “usurers and goons” from the villages and with the backing of the people, the party will also be able to chase away "foreign stooges" sheltering in the capital Kathmandu.
Nearly half portion of his speech was devoted in the praise of the denizens of Thawang who are mostly ethnic Magars.
When asked why he dissolved the local government and is ready to relinquish “the achievements of the People´s War”, Dahal said that there is not much worry as the party has already converted the “people´s militia” into the Young Communist League (YCL), though he regrets having dissolved the parallel local governments.
Dahal however did not explicitly say anything on whether his party would join the government, but argued that the UML must adhere sincerely to the seven-point deal his party reached with UML Chairman Jhalanath Khanal.
"It will become clear in a couple of days whether this government is made up of bone and flesh or just straw. If it is really made up of bone and flesh, it will implement the agreement," he said without explaining if his party would continue supporting the government if the UML declined to give his party the home ministry and own up to the seven-point agreement.
Party leaders say that the visit of Dahal, accompanied by party hardliner Chand, holds special meaning as the party is making preparations for a revolt. Chand is one of the vocal proponents of "people´s revolt".
Speaking at the rally, Chand said that Maoists may return to the villages once again if they could not accomplish their mission. He argued that the party´s revolt in Kathmandu will achieve “people´s constitution” if the current peace process fails. “Our fight is not against the army and police; they will rather turn their guns toward the foreign stooges,” he said.
Similarly, Maoist PLA chief Nanda Kishor Pun argued that the “People´s War” has not come to an end. “We have only made a tactical shift,” he said.
During the function, the locals had performed cultural dance and the leaders had danced along with the locals.
Thawang continues to be the Maoist stronghold even before the Maoists launched insurgency in 1996 and was also a major hideout for the party leaders.
Meanwhile, the party also organized a tea reception at Bhrikutimandap exhibition grounds on Sunday to mark the 16th anniversary of the "People´s War". The function was attended by Maoist vice-chairmen Mohan Baidya, Dr Baburam Bhattarai and party general secretary Ram Bahadur Thapa, among others. Baidya addressing the function said, "The mission of the People´s War is yet to be accomplished."
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