KATHMANDU, Nov 25: Netra Bikram Chand-led Communist Party Nepal staged a show of strength in the capital on Saturday, amid close surveillance by the security agencies.
Party chief Chand himself didn’t appeared at a program organized to mark its fifth party reform day. The government has been closely observing the activities of the breakaway Maoist faction which has adopted the political line of continuing to take up arms to accomplish the ‘remaining task of the Maoist war.’
Party spokesperson Khagda Bahadur Biswakarma accused former Maoist commander Pushpa Kamal Dahal and Mohan Baidya of failing to act in the spirit of the Maoist insurgency. Indicating the present situation of the Maoist leaders, Biswakarma questioned their property holdings. “Those who had nothing to speak of have become wealthy overnight; how have they managed to acquire such huge wealth overnight,” he asked. Biswakarma also accused government ministers of being bought by commissions and bribes.
What does fractured mandate mean for foreign policy?
Party cadres thronged the capital from various parts of the country for a street rally from various points in Kathmandu. They converged in a mass gathering at Exhibition Road. A message from the party chief to the rank and file was read out.
Claiming that certain forces have been working to secede from the country in the name of Madhes and Pahad, Biswakarma urged all the people to become one army for upholding national integrity. He also accused external powers of using Nepal as a playground.
Gopal Kirati, who separated from the Maoists after the party decided to unifiy with the CPN-UML accused Pushpa Kamal Dahal of betraying the movement in the hope of a Nobel Peace Prize.
Rishi Ram Kattel, who had registered his Nepal Communist Party at the Election Commission, was also invited to the program.
The Chand-led party has been turning down calls for talks from a high-level government talks team to discuss its grievances.
Traffic congestion due to a rally organised by Netra Bikram Chand-led Maoist in Kathmandu on Saturday. Photo: Keshab Thoker/Republica
