Why did you form the People´s Volunteers when the party already has the YCL?
We have called the formation of the organization a new dimension in our organizational setup -- a new brick in the party structure. It doesn´t matter if there are other such party wings. It is purely a new concept propagated by the Maoists for organizational development. And we took the move for two obvious reasons: one is the current political transition and another is the feeling that we should contribute to the country.
Your party has formulated the policy to ´revolt´? Does formation of the People´s Volunteers have anything to do with the ´revolt´?
No. The new organization has more of a service-oriented than political character. The said rebellion is a political affair. There may be a need to launch a revolt, but there is already an agency to lead and mobilize the people. It can be the party itself or its auxiliaries or, in a way, the People´s Liberation Army (PLA). The Maoists have put forward the option to revolt if the constitution drafting falls prey to conspiracy. But the volunteers are for the service of the people. There is no direct relation between the party´s policy to revolt and formation of the People´s Volunteers.
Can there be link between them if such a revolt is launched?
The volunteers are not for political purposes. But it doesn´t mean that they would not remain satisfied as spectators. However, the party is not using the organization as a means to consolidate power for a revolt.
You have stated that the volunteers will work toward improving security and take action against criminals. Doesn´t that infringe on the jurisdiction of the state?
No. There are two sides: the formal security arrangement by the state and the inalienable right of every citizen to self-protection. The Nepali law also has the provision that guarantees the right to self-protection; we have only tried to institutionalize it a bit. There are places where the state has not been able to provide security to the people. So giving security to such people would only be supplementary to state function.
What are the other areas of your service?
There are three sectors: production, (re)construction and people´s security. The physical infrastructure destroyed during the people´s war or other calamities would be reconstructed. This would be done joining hands with the state and donor agencies. In the production sector, we are mulling formation of cooperatives.
What is the strength of your organization?
There would be a few thousand whole-timers and tens of thousands of part-timers. While constructing a road in Rolpa, we had once mobilized 500,000 youths, and 700,000 at another time. There is no limit; the organization would go on expanding.
Given the current political development, the constitution is not likely to be drafted by May 28. How will your party launch a revolt?
Let´s not assume that the constitution will not be drafted; saying such things will make people restless. Now all of us should focus on this task. There can be only two reasons for the failure to draft a constitution: if the progression is resisted and if the past agreements are violated.
Shouldn´t your party then revolt?
(Laughing) Let´s look for an answer in May. We have been saying that we will launch a revolt if the conspiracy against constitution drafting prevails. Perhaps this is the answer you have been expecting from me. But it would be too early to say so, and this would not comfort the people, either. It is not a big thing to draft a constitution, but what really matters is whether the state would go for a forward-looking restructuring.
You are termed a "radical" inside and outside the party. Are you comfortable with the word?
It depends on how you construe the meaning of the term “radical”. I don´t have anything to say if they say so on the basis of my ideals, conviction, ideology, thoughts and goals, and also because I have called for debates on these issues. I emphatically say we communists have consciously become communists; we have our own norms and values. I don´t say anything even if they launch a publicity campaign to fulfill their vested interests. I only say that such a thing is the outcome of a defeated mentality. There is nothing like radical or non-radical in Marxism; you are either true or false, either correct or incorrect.
Why did you not join the government despite the request of Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal?
After the party decided to join the government, it is quite natural to have debates on who will join the government. We concluded that there is no need for me to join the government. We did not think that we would be in a position to do what we want by joining the government. A team joined the government and another stayed out.
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