Speaking at a press conference in Kathmandu, the leader of the Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist-Leninist), the second largest in the ruling coalition, said his party is going to talk “decisively” with Maoists on the issues that are distancing the two parties.
Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal, who is also the chairman of the ruling Unified Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist), addressed the nation on Sunday without consulting other partners of the six-party ruling coalition, said Khanal, who said his party doesn’t own the three ordinances introduced on Wednesday.
“We were not consulted on addressing the nation as well as introducing the ordinances,” said Khanal, expressing his party’s disapproval with the government decisions. “It is time to talk decisively [with the Prime Minister],” he said.
CPN-UML is at odds with the Maoists on a number of issues and it is finding its five-month long journey with Maoists in the government very uncomfortable.
Khanal also said the army integration should be accomplished according to the Interim Constitution, Comprehensive Peace Agreement and seven-point agreement.
On the occasion, the party also made public its political document and party statute amendment proposal to be tabled at the party’s eighth national convention due to be held in Butwal, February 16-21.
The political document also sees the Maoists as the major threat to the communist movement. “The main threat to the communist movement of the country is posed by the ultra-leftist anarchism,” said the document. “Maoists are the main advocates of this (ultra-leftist anarchism).”
The document has also argued that the main guiding principle of the party, People’s Multiparty Democracy propounded by late UML leader Madan Bhandari, should be updated to make it suitable to the present national context.
The convention is going to change the structure of the party leadership, as proposed by the statute amendment, to make it joint leadership.
UML has hoped to see participation of 300,000 people in the convention. There will be about 1500 party representatives in the convention.
Related story
Let’s live and let live
