I was on a personal visit: Dahal

BIRATNAGAR, Sept 11: On his way back to Kathmandu from a “secret family trip” to eastern Nepal, Maoist Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal briefly talked to journalists in Biratnagar on Sunday, but he did not divulge the details of the visit that has triggered many speculations.



The Maoist chief argued that he had, however, informed Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai, Nepali Congress (NC) General Secretary Krishna Sitaula, and chiefs of the security forces about the visit.[break]



“I did not inform each and everyone about the trip, which was personal,” Dahal told reporters.



“Those who should have known about my visit knew about it,” he added.



The Maoist chief rubbished rumors that he had landed in eastern Nepal to hold talks with NC President Sushil Koirala. “Sitaulaji had told me that Sushilji is in Biratnagar,” Dahal said, “But it is not true that I came here to hold talks with Sushilji,” he said.



Accompanied by wife Sita, son Prakash and in-charge of Maoist Kochila State Committee Haribol Gajurel, Dahal reached the airport on a vehicle (Ba 0001 A 8) at noon, and talked to reporters.



“I did not talk to you reporters when I arrived here as I was on a personal trip. I had planned to talk to you on my way back,” he said.



The local journalists had reached the airport after Prakash posted a message on Facebook: “Returning from Biratnagar.”



“I am on my way back after solving my family problems. I also reached various places of eastern Nepal. But the rumors spread by the media were false,” he said. Dahal had reached Biratnagar last Friday immediately after attending a function in Gorkha.







There are rumors that Dahal went to Siliguri across the border to settle a long-standing dispute between his youngest daughter Ganga and son-in-law Narayan Bikram Pradhan, an Indian national residing in the city. Ganga and Narayan have been living separately for the last several years (Ganga now lives in Kathmandu) and they are said to be on the brink of divorce.



Dahal assures progress in peace



Dahal told the reporters that his party would take a new step in a few days toward concluding the peace process. “The peace process will gain momentum in a few days,” he said, “Many complexities of the peace process have been resolved.”



Dahal argued that the peace process and constitution drafting no longer have knotty problems.



“I don´t see any problem in concluding the peace process should all the political leaders put in their best efforts,” he argued. Dahal said that he would focus on peace and constitution after reaching Kathmandu. “The task of state restructuring is a bit difficult, but things would be easier once the team of experts is formed for that task,” he said.

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