Maoists will return to power soon, claims Prachanda

Shirish B Pradhan

Kathmandu, May 6 (PTI) Amid hectic parleys among the
political parties to form a new government in Nepal, Maoist
supremo Prachanda Wednesday claimed that his party will return
to power in the country even as hundreds of ex-rebels chanting
"we are ready to fight" clashed with police here.

"After some time, all doubts will be cleared and an
atmosphere of trust will be created and we will in a position
to lead the new government," Prachanda, who resigned as Prime
Minister following a months-long bitter row with the army
chief General Rukmangad Katawal, said.

Talking to media after meeting his former ally Jhalanath
Khanal of Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist Leninist)
in a bid to mend fences, he said President Ram Baran Yadav
should withdraw his decision to reinstate the army chief, a
move which prompted his resignation on Monday.

He also denied allegations that he made remarks against
India or any other friendly country while announcing his
resignation, as interpreted by the media.

Prachanda told Khanal -- whose CPN-UML withdrew support
to the Maoists on the issue of Katawal's sacking -- that he
was ready to cooperate if Yadav rectified his "mistake".

"There is no other option than moving ahead by forging a
national consensus to resolve the current political crisis,"
he was quoted as saying by CPN-UML sources.

Police fired tear gas shells and used batons to break up
a protest rally by more than 1,000 red flag-carrying Maoist
cadres in the capital, who chanted "we are ready to fight".
Authorities have imposed a ban on demonstrations in various
key areas of the city.

CPN-Maoist activists also thrashed workers of Nepali
Congress and CPN-UML in Ramechhap and Rolpa districts.

Maoist lawmakers blocked parliament Tuesday, gathering
in front of the assembly hall and chanting slogans. Maoist MP
Barsa Man Pun said, "there will be more protests until the
president withdraws his unconstitutional decision."

Prachanda too said his party will not let the process of
the formation of new government begin unless the President
withdraws his decision.

The Maoist leader also denied that he has made any
remarks directed against India during his resignation address.

"I have not blamed either India, China or USA in my
speech by calling (their) names, what I have done is only
opposed foreign intervention," he clarified.

However, he said that "people here feel India's role was
not being positive" in army chief issue.

While announcing his decision to step down on Monday,
Prachanda had said "I will quit the government rather than
remain in power by bowing down to the foreign elements and
reactionary forces."

His party is ready to maintain "cordial relations" with
the neighbouring countries but will "not accept any
intervention," Prachanda had said in remarks seen as a veiled
attack on India.

Facing a Saturday deadline, Nepal's opposition parties
are engaged in hectic parleys to cobble up a new coalition
government.

Tuesday, 21 parties met and decided to form the
government under the leadership of CPN-UML that pulled out of
the Maoist dispensation.

The parties including Nepali Congress, Terai Madhes
Democratic Party, Sadbhavna Party and Rashtriya Prajatantra
Party command a strength of over 280 MPs in the 601-member
Constituent Assembly.

The opposition alliance is eyeing a majority of the 53
members of the Madhesi People's Rights Forum (MPRF), who are
said to be not averse to joining the new coalition even if it
comes to a split, political sources said.

The Maoists organised a separate meeting Tuesday attended
by leaders from MPRF, Nepal Workers and Peasants Party and
Nepal Janata Dal. MPRF has the key to government formation as
both Maoists and Nepali Congress-UML alliance are trying to
woo the Madhesi party.