Addressing the UML parliamentary party meeting organized to brief lawmakers about the party´s Central Committee decisions, Prime Minister Nepal asked lawmakers close to Chairman Khanal not to unnecessarily criticize his acts. [break]
“If you chase me unnecessarily I may chase you too,” he said in a veiled threat to Chairman Khanal, adding: “This is human nature after all.”
The prime minister´s response came after lawmakers close to Khanal heavily criticized his proposal to the Maoists to vote in favor of Nepali Congress (NC) prime ministerial candidate Ram Chandra Poudel. Lawmakers close to Khanal had argued that his proposal was against the party´s CC decision.
The prime minister argued he made such a proposal as the Maoists were dilly-dallying to formally hand over the cantonments to Secretariat under Special Committee. “I made the proposal as electing the new prime minister through a fresh process would take a long time and the term of UNMIN would expire by that time.”
Arguing that the alliance with NC is in the best interest of the party and the country´s democratic future, the prime minister categorically said that Maoist-led government was not possible unless the latter severs its ties with arms and combatants.
“It is wrong to argue that it would not make any difference if there was a Maoist-led government in place,” he said referring to the remarks of some lawmakers close to Khanal. “The Maoists should no longer be appeased.”
The prime minister argued that the Maoists have failed to transform themselves due to appeasement on the part of mainstream political parties. “The country would have to face the fate of Cambodia, if the Maoist conduct is not checked on time,” he further said. “We need to understand which party is close to us - the NC or the Maoists.”
The prime minister added that the Maoists are still bent on seizing state powers through rebellion and still obsessed with violence. “It is important for us all to forge alliance with all other democratic forces to help institutionalize democracy.”
The prime minister also vented his anger against the failure of the UML leadership for failing to criticize and demand action against the Maoist lawmakers involved in the manhandling Finance Minister Surendra Pandey. “It is worrisome that some UML leaders have developed a tendency to do what Maoists suggest,” he said, adding: “A man without ego is worthless. How could you all forget what the Maoists did?”
Speaking on the occasion, party Chairman Khanal said there was no change in the party´s policy with regard to the seven-point decision of the party´s CC that decided to vote against prime ministerial candidate Ram Chandra Poudel, among other things. “There is no change in the party policy,” he said. “If there is any difference it is because of the personal egos of our leaders.”
Khanal said UML should be able to fight both extreme leftist and extreme rightist forces in the country. “It is not only from Maoist cadres but also from the goons of Nepal Students Union that our cadres are suffering,” he said. “The party should move ahead as per the decisions of CC. We should not head toward any kind of polarization.”
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