Speaking at a function organized on the occasion of the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi in the Capital on Sunday, he urged the UCPN (Maoist) to be responsible towards nation and its people, and conclude the peace process with sincerity.[break]
He stated that Maoist leaders’ voice and behavior were controversial, adding it was better to win the public confidence doing little things rather than giving unnecessary assurances to them. NC President Koirala said he had suggested to hand over the arms in the cantonments to the Army Integration Special Committee.
He said he had been urging the Maoist leadership to justify the party´s commitment for peace and constitution returning the captured property during the insurgency, dismantling the paramilitary structure of Young Communist League (YCL) and completely ending extortions.
The non-violent movement, Satyagraha, and decentralization policies propounded by Gandhi are still relevant in Nepali context, he said, adding dialogue, consensus, unity and reconciliation were what he embraced in his political life.
NC leader Koirala stressed for consensus and reconciliation so as to settle down the intra-party rift seen following the dissolution of the party´s sister wings.
Similarly, general secretary of CPN -UML, Ishwor Pokhrel blamed Maoists for not being sincere to conclude peace process saying the UCPN (Maoist) has not presented work schedule in the Army Integration Special Committee regarding the integration and management of the Maoist combatants.
Pokhrel, who is also the member of the special committee stressed for integrating the combatants in the Nepal Army, who are physically and mentally fit. The others who do not meet the standard should be adjusted in other sectors, he said.
Chairman of Rastriya Prajatantra Party (Nepal) Kamal Thapa said still it is difficult for Maoists to move on the path of non-violence as they could not give up the politics of violence.
Charge d’ Affairs of the Indian Embassy in Nepal Jaya Deep Majumdar said the United Nations has declared October 2 as ´World Non-violence Day´ respecting the non-violence movement propounded by Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi.
Mahatma Gandhi who liberated India through a non-violent movement from a British colony, has said wealth without labour, consumption without wisdom, science without humanity, knowledge without character, politics without principle, trade without morality and worship without devotion, are seven sins of mankind.
Meanwhile, Koirala also inaugurated the annual conference of the NC Lalitpur Constituency No.2 in the capital. While addressing the conference, he claimed that the party will not split apart at any cost.
He also said others will be benefited if unity is lacking in the party, and expressed the confidence that unity in the party will be kept intact by sacrificing whatever was needed.
Koirala said that he will hold discussions with party leader Sher Bahadur Deuba to resolve the intra-party rift.
He, however, said that the party was not united due to rising trend of individualism in the NC and urged the NC leaders to work for party´s cause.
In a separate context, the NC chief said, "We will not hinder the government´s functioning, but the Maoists should be ready to implement the past agreements and consensus pacts."
Also speaking at the program, NC general secretary Prakash Man Singh said the party should be run based on rules and systems.
Singh claimed that the Bhattarai-led government cannot complete the peace process and constitution writing.
At the program, various NC leaders suggested the party leadership to move ahead by ending the intra-party rift in unison.
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