He also announced another phase of protests to topple the government “formed with the backing of foreigners and run to safeguard their interests, and which stands in the way of the peace process and the drafting of a people´s constitution". [break]
“A decisive-level mass movement has begun from today. It will culminate on May 1 with tens of thousands of people hitting the streets. We will not stop without taking it to a decisive level,” said Dahal addressing a rally at Khulla Manch in Kathmandu. The Maoist party held similar rallies in all 75 districts of the country Tuesday.
Dahal said that concluding the peace process and drafting a new constitution are still possible before the May 28 deadline if the current government is dissolved and the 12-point agreement and the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) adhered to.
“We can conclude the peace process in a month and the constitution drafting in one and a half months. But that needs the will power of the major parties in the Constituent Assembly. It will not happen without dissolving the puppet government,” he said.
The Maoist chairman said the Maoist argument that a conspiracy was being hatched against the spirit and mandate of the mass movement after the president reinstated the army chief and this government was formed has been borne out in the 10 months past. “I appeal to all to prepare for a decisive mass movement,” he said.
On India
The Maoist chief said his party is not against India, but wants to change the existing bilateral treaties which are not in favor of the people of the two countries. “We want to change the existing treaties which are against the people of both countries. But we are being termed anti-Indian,” he said.
Maoists to join hands with NA
Dahal reiterated that his party does not have any enmity with the Nepal Army (NA). He argued that the political parties cannot counter the Maoists and that´s why rumors are being spread that the NA is ready to counter the Maoists.
“We don´t have any enmity with the NA at present. That was so in some phase of history, but not now. NA personnel and officers know that we are all children of mother Nepal. We are ready in the national interest to join hands with anyone who is responsible to the nation and the people,” he said.
He called on the NA not to give in to incitement just because those who are against social change tell them to do so. “The NA will act in unity in the interest of the people. I appeal to all army personnel for this,” he said.
The former rebel chief came down heavily on recent statements by former prime minister Krishna Prasad Bhattarai, Deputy Prime Minister Bijay Kumar Gachchhadar and Nepali Congress leader Khum Bahadur Khadka against republicanism, secularism and federalism. “Ghosts have risen from the grave and people should wake up to quiet them down.”
On MRP
Dahal has objected to the government decision to award India the machine-readable passports (MRP) contract. He said the move was taken in defiance of the directives of the Public Accounts Committee of the Legislature-Parliament.
“Those who take parliament as the supreme body have violated the parliamentary decision. The prerogatives of parliament have been overridden,” he said.
The Maoists held similar rallies in all 75 districts of the country.
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