JANAKPUR, August 2: Shortly after the Nepali Congress (NC) started its poll campaign with the aim of securing victory in at least 100 of the total 127 locals units, the ruling CPN (Maoist Center) on Tuesday started preparations for launching its poll campaign in Province 2.
Maoist Center Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal, who reached Janakpur on Monday to address a gathering of the party's election mobilization committee members made lofty promises about developing Janakpur as a metropolitan city and constructing an international airport in the holy city.
Stating that Birgunj and Biratnagar were announced metropolitan cities during his tenure as prime minister, Chairman Dahal also said that his party has plans to develop Janakpur, which is historically and religiously important city, as the main destination for religious tourists, especially those from India.
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Addressing the gathering of party's election mobilization committee members on Tuesday, Dahal said he has already held discussions with Urban Development Minister Prabhu Shah and secretary of the ministry about launching integrated urban development project in Janakpur. He said that the Maoist Center will develop Janakpur as the world's model city within the next three years.
Dahal announced the plan to launch beautification drive to give a facelift to the religious shrines and artifacts related to King Janak and Goddess Sita, upgrade existing zonal hospital, build a well-equipped sports stadium and international stadium in Janakpur.
In a separate context, Chairman Dahal said the media had misinterpreted his recent remarks about dissolving the party organization. He claimed that he had sarcastically proposed dissolving the party as the party could not perform as expected in the local elections due to lack of commitment on the part of party leaders.
"The works that Nepali Congress and CPN-UML could not do in five-seven decades has been done by the Maoist Center in a decade," he said. "Maoist has done unparallel work for economic development and restoration of peace," he said.
Dahal said that Maoist Center is working to neutralize the extremist forces in Madhes by ensuring that Madhesi people are provided with all the rights. Hinting at the secessionist movement of CK Raut, Dahal said those advocating for independent Madhes are not doing any good to the Madhes and the country. He also urged party cadres to unite against what he described as "hollow nationalism."
