POKHARA, May 6: CPN (Maoist Center) Chair Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ has said that prosperity and development would be achieved only through the collective efforts of the ruling and opposition parties.

Addressing an installation program of the newly-elected team of Federation of Nepali Journalists (FNJ) Province No. 4 on Sunday, the former Prime Minister said that coordination was needed among all to achieve development, prosperity and stability in the country.

Saying that Maoist and UML formed an alliance, made common manifesto and picked joint candidates, he said that unity among the communist parties was the need of the nation.

The Maoist Chairman also said that he was with the media persons for the press freedom and recalled that two fold increment in public welfare advertisement, respect and prizes to senior journalists were initiated during his premiership.

Likewise, Federal Chairman of FNJ Govinda Acharya said rights were handed over to the province committees of the FNJ, adding that the FNJ would continuously struggle for journalists’ welfare and citizen’s rights.

On the occasion, Minister for Industry, Tourism, Forest and Environment of Province No. 4 Bikash Lamsal, President of Minimum Wages Determination Commission Gangadhar Parajuli, Chairman of FNJ Province No. 4 Election Committee Surendra Thapa Magar and others expressed their opinions saying that role of media was vital for country’s development and prosperity. RSS

KATHMANDU, Nov 23: CPN (Maoist Center) chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ said that all the sons and daughters of the country are like his children.

Prachanda stated this in a written statement issued at a condolence meet in honor of the late Prakash Dahal, son of the Maoist Centre chairman at the Dahal residence in Lazimpat on Thursday.

“All the youth in the country are like our son Prakash and we have reached to the conclusion that we should make a lot of efforts for their bright future,” the statement reads.

After Prakash’s death, Nepal Students Union (NSU), All Nepal National Free Students Union (ANNFSU), All Nepal National Independent Students Union (Revolutionary) and other youth organizations jointly extended condolences to me and my family and encouraged us stating that they were our children. Prakash is no more now. But we see Prakash in every youth of the country, the statement further reads.

The Maoist Centre chairman also said that the solidarity the general public extended to him and his family was very important to them when the family was in grief.

“The support you extended at this hour of grief at the loss of our only son has given us much power to bear this loss and grief,” Dahal stated.

He also said that he is indebted to all the political parties and their leaders who condoled the Dahal family, saying messages of condolences were also received from across the world and not only from Nepal.

He also mentioned the messages of condolences his family received from China and India as well as from various countries of Europe, America, Australia, Africa and Asia. Prachanda noted that condolence messages were also received from several communist parties the world over. The Maoist Center chairman also mentioned the sympathies and condolences extended to him and his family by various professional, social and business organizations.

“I consider the mass of people that voluntarily turned out on November 19 from the Norvic Hospital to the party’s head office Parisdanda to the Aryaghat as the evidence of the respect that Prakash earned in short period of his life,” Prachanda said.

Prakash had died due to cardiac arrest on November 19 at the age of 36.
Leaders of various political parties, industrialists and businessmen, journalists, the chiefs and representatives of the diplomatic missions were present at the condolence meet. They extended heartfelt condolences to the Dahal family on the occasion. RSS

Photos: Mukunda Kalikote/Reporters’ Club Nepal

KATHMANDU, Oct 26: CPN (Maoist Centre) chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ has said the Legislature-Parliament will automatically be restored if the elections to the House of Representatives and State Assembly were not held in the stipulated time.

“Although constitutionally the term of the parliament is until January 21, 2018 it has been dissolved as the process for the nomination of candidates for the House of Representatives and State Assembly elections have started. The parliament will be automatically reinstated if the elections are not held on the stipulated dates of November 26 and December 7 this year,” said the former prime minister while addressing a book (entitled ‘History of Modern’ authored by Laxman Panta) launching program in the capital on Thursday.

Dahal also said that the Communist Alliance will make its views on this topic public today alone.
“The regressive elements who do not want the progressive and the pro-change forces coming together might disturb the election process; we all need to be conscious towards this possibility,” he said.

Prachanda also urged one and all not to cast doubts regarding this (i.e. the elections not taking place on the stipulated date) as the Election Commission has started the process of printing separate ballot papers for the same seat of the House of Representatives and State Assembly, in agreement with the top leaders of the major political parties, including Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba.

Also speaking on the occasion, CPN-UML Secretary Pradip Gyawali said that Panta has written the book following the socialist and the progressive concepts in history writing.

Chief Editor of Kantipur national daily, Sudhir Sharma said the rightist and leftist both perspectives on seeing history would be wrong.

The 558 pages book is based on the analysis of key incidents of the period from 1743 BS to 1955 BS in Nepal’s history.

KATHMANDU, Oct 23: CPN (Maoist Center) Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ is preparing to contest the upcoming federal elections from Bardiya constituency No 1, according to party close sources. Dahal had previously announced his candidacy from Chitwan Constituency No 3.

The Maoist Center has formed electoral alliance with CPN-UML to contest the House of Representatives and Province Assembly elections scheduled for November 26 and December 8.

UML was preparing to field party vice-chair Bamdev Gautam from Bardiya-1. But, since Dahal asked UML to let him contest from Bardiya, Gautam will vie the election from Pyuthan district, said sources.

Earlier, UML District Committee Bardiya had unanimously recommended Gautam from Bardiya 1. Gautam had won Constitution Assembly Election 2013 from both Baridya and Pyuthan.

KATHMANDU, Oct 14: CPN (Maoist Center) chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ has said that the peace process has become successful with the promulgation of the constitution from the people-elected Constituent Assembly.

While addressing the last meeting of the legislature-parliament on Saturday, Dahal recalled that it was his party that struggled the most and made the most sacrifice for making the constitution a success. He added, the country reached to the point of issuing the constitution from the second Constituent Assembly as they were concerned and conscious with the failure of the first Constituent Assembly to make the constitution despite enjoying a majority of pro-change forces.

“The peace agreement is related to the issuance of the constitution. The constitution would not be made had there been the guarantee of the success of the peace process. For that purpose, I took the risky decision of integration of the Maoist combatants into the Nepal Army even at the cost of the party’s split,” he further added.

Stating that thousands have sacrificed their lives for ensuring the rights of the poor, oppressed, indigenous nationalities, Madhesi, Tharu, Muslim and women in the constitution, he said but the constitution has come as a document of compromise and not as every community would like to have it.

“Many progressive and transformation issues have been addressed in this constitution. I would like to assure of my sincerity to the justified demands of the Madhesi community although these issues could not be addressed through amendment to the constitution. I believe the coming parliament too would pursue constitution amendment and revision to achieve national unity and prosperity,” the Maoist Centre chairman said.

He also stated that the leftist alliance that has been forged in view of the upcoming elections should not be construed as ‘communist authoritarianism’ because according to him this alliance is not directed against anyone.

“This alliance is an outcome of ideological principles and of long efforts. We will be in a kind of collaboration with the Nepali Congress also. The Maoist Centre would not exit from the government because of the alliance. We are together in the shared responsibility of conducting the elections,” he reiterated.

Mahendra Raya Yadav of the Rastriya Janata Party said that the constitution was not inclusive of and accommodative towards the indigenous nationalities and Madhesis, stressing on the need of amending it as per their demands.

Chairman of the Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP), Kamal Thapa, recalling that his party had supported the constitution by remaining unchanged in its ideals, underlined the need for all the political parties to work together for the implementation of the constitutiona nd promotion of nationality.

Dr Subodh Kumar Pokharel of the Nepal Loktantrik Forum said his party would also have signed on the constitution in support of it had there been provision for the delineation of the federalism through a commission.

KATHMANDU, Oct 13: CPN (Maoist Center) Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ has said that the left alliance is for national unity and sovereignty.

Welcoming the central committee member of Rastriya Janata Party Nepal Khowari Raya and others, the former prime minister said that the ongoing efforts of left alliance is for national unity, sovereignty and people’s rights.

“We are in favor of identity and rights of all people living in Himal, hills and Tarai-Madhes. We share common stance with UML to ensure the rights of all by amending the constitution,” Prachanda added.

During the event, former State Minister and lawmaker Rasnarayan Raya, former VDC Chairman and NC’s General Convention Representative Rajdevi Sahani and RJP central leader Kishori Prasad Yadav and others joined the Maoist Center.

Meanwhile, Chairman Prachanda addressed a gathering of Nepali Progressive Forum in Kathmandu and said that that the roles of Non-Resident Nepalis were vital for Nepal’s socio-economic development.

Saying that the country was in the stage of constitution’s implementation, the Maoist Chairman urged the NRNs to support in Nepal’s socio economic development. RSS

BARA, Sept 15: CPN (Maoist Center) Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ has clarified that voters in Terai-Madhes have received his party very positively as the party have always worked in interest of Madhesi people. The third round of local level election is only two days away. What is the position of the Maoist Center (MC) in Province 2? What is the MC’s standing on constitution amendment matter? Focusing on these topics, journalist Rishi Dhamala took an interview of Prachanda, who is currently in Madhes for his election campaign. Here is an excerpt:

What is the position of Maoist Center in Province 2?

Our party is strong here in Madhes. Madhesi people have positively acknowledged the work I did during my ten month’s term as prime minister. They prefer our party for the great deal of efforts we made to address their genuine concerns.

I was honest regarding their demands- whether it be giving martyrdom status to those killed during the Madhes movement or providing compensation and treatment to the injured. I also made outstanding efforts in providing relief to the affected families of the recent Terai flood. People have realized that MC work for Madhes.

The constitution amendment proposal failed at the parliament. On what basis do you say that Madhes demands have been addressed?

Madhesi people have realized the fact that I had honestly tried to address the grievances of Madhesi people through constitution amendment. It is true that I had prepared a list of 401 lawmakers who would support the amendment bill. But the proposal could not get endorsed since the lawmakers from the Rastriya Prajatantra Party were absent at the time of voting.

Also, the amendment proposal failed for the second time. But we have not given up. We will move forward the amendment process again. The proposal will be put to vote again. Madhesi people will get their rights very soon.

Will the constitution amendment proposal be forwarded after election?

Yes, of course. We are in constant effort to address the Madhes demands. We will forward the amendment proposal again after the election. If the MC and the Nepali Congress win in large numbers in election, it will become our responsibility to amend the constitution. But Madhesi people should first vote MC and make us victorious.

Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba assured of constitution amendment from Delhi during his five-day state visit to India. Was it a right step?

It is not right to raise the issue of Nepal’s internal affairs to a foreign land. But later I talked to PM Deuba. He clarified that he raised the issue of amendment in Delhi since Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi frequently asked him about it.

Why did you object previously?

I did not object. I was only commenting over Deuba’s raising of the issue in India because the amendment matter was already settled at the parliament days before his India visit. I did not see it necessary.

What about the main opposition party CPN-UML? They had also protested.

Whenever any prime minister from Nepal visits India, there is always objection. We have a trend to talk negatively, which is not right.

KATHMANDU, July 23: CPN (Maoist Center) Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ has proposed to slim down the party’s jumbo General Convention Organizing Committee (GCOC) members consisting of 4000 members to 99 members.

During the final day of the party’s secretariat meeting summoned in the capital, Dahal proposed to trim the jumbo committee stating that such large size was the result of poor result in the local level election. The meeting started on Monday.

List of members will be finalized by mid-September.

Dahal also said that his party would discuss with the major parties about scraping the costly first-past-the-post system and adopting the proportional representation electoral system so as to increase its access to ordinary people.

Dahal terming the existing system of the government as the primary agent for the current political stability in the country, further said that his party would advocate for the system of directly elected executive President.