KATHMANDU, Jan 15: The Unified Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) is seriously thinking of quitting the government if "non-cooperation" by the Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist-Leninist) continues, a Maoist leader told myrepublica.com Thursday. He also claimed the prime minister and party chairman´s visit was postponed because of the UML.
Prime Minister and Maoist Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal on Thursday postponed his already-scheduled visit to Europe and held a meeting in this connection with senior party leaders including Finance Minister Dr Baburam Bhattarai and another central leader, Barsa Man Pun.
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During the meeting, the Maoist leaders discussed giving an ultimatum to the UML first to extend its "sincere" cooperation to the government, before deciding about quitting.
“We discussed how we could not continue any further in this way. The government hasn’t been able to deliver to the people because of the UML,” said Pun, a close aide of Dahal. “It’s for certain we will quit the government if the UML doesn’t change its behavior.” [break]
Prime Minister Dahal is all set to propose quitting the government at a meeting of the party’s Central Committee on Friday, if the UML ‘non-cooperation’ continues, he said.
Pun quoted the prime minister as saying that the government´s public image is suffering because of the UML. “The UML is maintaining double standards. We must make matters clear or quit the government,” Dahal said in the meeting, according to Pun.
Pun said Prime Minister Dahal has postponed his visit to Europe because of the UML.
“He (prime minister) wants to clear all outstanding issues including formation of commissions, committees and local bodies before visiting Europe,” said Pun, adding, “We have taken the UML’s non-cooperative behavior very seriously this time.”
The Maoist chairman voiced serious objection to the UML leaders´ overt criticism of the government. He charged that the UML is playing the role of an opposition party while remaining in the government.
Of late, Maoist leaders including the prime minister have been blaming the UML, a major ally in the current six-party coalition, for what they call the government´s lackadaisical performance.
The UML has been blamed for the delay in forming local bodies and various commissions including the commission for probing the disappearance of persons.
“The UML has created many obstacles to our introducing pro-people programs,” said Pun. “We don’t want to remain in government under such circumstances. We are seriously thinking of quitting the government."
ghanashyam@myrepublica.com
