Speaking at a function in Birgunj, he said, “We are for resuming the House to let the budget pass,” adding, “But the government should not construe our magnanimity as a weakness.”The Maoist chairman said he would soon hold serious parleys with other political parties regarding the budget. The legislature-parliament has not passed the budget for the current fiscal due to the continuous obstruction of the parliamentary proceedings by the Maoists. The House has passed the vote on account bill, allowing the government to spend only a third of the total budget.
The Maoist chairman reiterated that the formation of a national unity government is impossible under the CPN-UML led-government, and said the foundation for a national government would be laid only after dissolution of the current government. He said his party is primarily for the restoration of “civilian supremacy”, but also stakes claim to lead the government.
Claiming that the moral ground of the current government is low, Dahal said his party can never be part of it. “We cannot turn it into a national government,” he said.
The Maoist chairman also accused the office bearers in the current government of trying to incite the Maoists. “But our party cadres will not fall prey to the conspiracy,” he said.
Dahal also claimed that Chairman of Nepal Workers and Peasants Party Narayan Man Bijukchhe was expressing his views in favor of monarchy. “This is an indication of his conspiracy to revive monarchy.”
The Maoist chairman also vented anger against Indian media for linking UCPN (Maoist) with underground Indian Maoist parties. “We had relations with them (Indian Maoists) before we joined the peace process here,” he said, “But we have not even met them afterwards,” he said. Dahal reiterated that his party did not receive any arms or technical assistance during the insurgency period. Dahal was in Birgunj to inaugurate the national convention of Madhesi Rastriya Mukti Morcha (Revolutionary), a wing of the Maoist party.
Baidya begs to differ
Meanwhile, contradicting what the party chairman said in Birgunj, Maoist Senior Vice Chair Mohan Baidya said in Kathmandu that his party will not let the budget pass in the parliament if the current political deadlock continues.
“Looking at the current situation, there is no possibility of resumption of parliament meeting to endorse the budget,” he said. Baidya, who leads the hard-line camp of the party, said his party is not totally against passage of the budget, but accused the government of not taking any positive step toward that end.
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