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Prachanda warns Koirala

KATHMANDU: Maoist Chairman Prachanda on Saturday said there was a possibility of counter-revolution in the country. Addressing a function in the capital, Mr. Prachanda said: “Since the Nepali Congress (NC) is not quitting power gracefully, there are indications of counter-revolution by the reactionaries.” He also accused Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala’s NC of trying to lead such a counter-revolution in cahoots with the palace.

Though many Maoist leaders have criticised Mr. Koirala and urged him to resign, this is the first time since the Constituent Assembly election that Mr. Prachanda has personally criticised Mr. Koirala. “Why is Koirala not submitting his resignation to the Speaker as provisioned in the interim Constitution to facilitate a smooth transfer of power,” he questioned, adding: “The tendency of some leaders to stick to power without feeling ashamed is raising fear of a counter-revolution.”

He also asked if the NC had any right to set conditions before the Maoists. “Who gave the NC such a right?” he said.

The NC had demanded that the Maoists fulfil some conditions to form the government. It demanded that the Constitution should be amended to allow removal of the Prime Minister by a simple majority rather than follow the current two-thirds-majority rule. It also demanded the dissolution of the Maoists’ People’s Court, People’s Liberation Army and Maoists’ local governments. Its other demands include management of Maoists’ weapons in cantonments, return of seized property, and change in the structure of the Maoists’ youth wing, the Young Communist League, into a volunteer political organisation.

Another senior Maoist leader, C P Gajurel, warned of a revolt if the NC did not relinquish power. “The revolt will kick Koirala out of Singha Durbar (Prime Minsiter’s Office),” said Mr. Gajurel in Sindhuli.

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