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Prachanda: we believe in democracy

KATHMANDU: Two weeks after the prime ministerial election, the coalition government headed by the CPN (Maoist) has taken a full shape with the expansion of the Cabinet with 24 Ministries, including three Deputy Prime Ministers.

On Sunday, Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal (Prachanda) administered the oath of office and secrecy to six Maoist Ministers, six UML Ministers and three Ministers representing smaller parties of the Constituent Assembly.

After assuming his office, Bam Dev Gautam, who holds the second position in the government as the Deputy Prime Minister, said his focus would be to maintain peace and security. “I want people to feel the difference from tomorrow itself,” he told reporters.

Baburam Bhattarai and Upendra Yadav are the other two Deputy Prime Ministers. They are yet to take the oath.

For the first time in the history of Nepal, the swearing in was boycotted by the media citing discrimination, as a number of reporters were denied media passes. Even the state-owned Nepal Television did not shoot the oath-taking.

Mr. Prachanda, who is also Chairman of the CPN (Maoist), has assured the international community that the Maoists believe in the norms and values of democracy. At a programme in the capital on Sunday, he said, “The international community doubts that the Maoists could go for autocracy,” adding, “We believe in the politics of understanding and we will stick to it.” Mr. Prachanda also said the government’s first task would be to win the people’s faith.

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