Prachanda blames ‘status-quoist’ forces for status quo

KATHMANDU: UCPN-Maoist Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ has said that country’s political transition was elongated as some status-quoist political forces denied giving rights to the people.

Inaugurating the national gathering of National Human Rights Concern Center here on Saturday, the UCPN-Maoist Chairman said that election to the Constituent Assembly (CA) was needed to empower the people.

Arguing that his party failed to meet people’s expectations due to lack of a clear majority in the past, the former prime minister added that the erstwhile CA also failed to draft the constitution due to lack of two-thirds majority of the progressive and revolutionary forces.

Dahal also expressed confidence that people would give a clear majority to the UCPN-Maoist in the upcoming CA election scheduled for November 19.

A clear majority was required to institutionalize the agendas of change, Chairman Dahal asserted.

Saying that his party was committed to making the CA election a success, Dahal hoped that people would defeat the regressive forces in the upcoming poll.

Dahal also said that empowering the people was the best way to ensure human rights in the country and added the role of rights bodies was vital during the election period.

Also speaking at the programme, UCPN-Maoist leader Barsha Man Pun said that one-sided interpretation of human rights could not benefit the any side as the issue of human rights was linked to all people.

Pun said that the UCPN-Maoist was in favour of promoting rule of law and the human rights should not be interpreted in a relative way.

On the occasion, rights activists Charan Prasain, Shovakar Parajuli and Bishnu Pukar Shrestha, among others expressed their opinions on different facets of human rights.

During the programme, Chairman of the Center Borna Bahadur Karki presented a concept paper on human rights and its condition in Nepal.

In his concept paper, Karki has stated that truth and reconciliation commission should be formed immediately to settle the war-era cases.

The gathering is also scheduled to elect a new working committee.