Prachanda warns of another revolution if deadlock persists

Nepal Maoist chief Prachanda has warned of another round of "decisive protests" soon, if
political parties fail to break the political deadlock, prompting the government to ask them to be "sincere" to the peace process and not return to the path of violence.

CPN-Maoist chairman Prachanda said that attempts were being made to forge an agreement between the political parties but warned that the "people always possess the right to revolt" if no solution is reached on a national government by the upcoming festival of Diwali.

Prachanda said the UN would also support an uprising as the UN Charter has such provisions to uphold people's rights in case of civil rights violation, The Kathmandu Post said. He, however, said that the nature of their uprising will be "peaceful".

Responding to the statement, Nepal foreign minister Sujata Koirala said the Maoists should be sincere to the peace process and not return to the path of violence. "I don't think that the Maoists would be in a position to return to war," she said.

"The Maoists should help in the peace process and the process of drafting the constitution... The statement about launching another revolution is irrelevant talks," she said.

Speaking in the Chitawan district of central Nepal yesterday, Prachanda had warned that his party would launch a "people's revolution" if their demands were not addressed by the coalition government.

The Maoists have termed president Ram Baran Yadav's move to reinstate the then army chief Rukmangad Katawal, who was sacked by the Maoist-led government, as a blow to "civilian supremacy" and have blocked parliamentary proceedings.
     
Prachanda said his party would launch an agitation immediately after the Diwali festival if their demands were not addressed by the government.
     
But he added that the Maoists would exercise "maximum flexibility" and were ready to call of their agitation if the government agrees to discuss President's "unconstitutional" move in the Parliament.
     
Meanwhile, Koirala who will accompany premier Madhav Kumar Nepal to New York to participate in the UN General Assembly session, said her government was pursuing a  policy of economic diplomacy to help in Nepal's economic development.

Responding to media reports that Maoists' had offered the chair of prime minister to her, she said, "I am in view of giving continuity to the present dispensation as change in the
government frequently will encourage political instability."

She also said the present government has given priority to strengthen relations with immediate neighbours and relations with India, China and European Union had improved
in the recent period.

Prime minister Nepal is expected to meet US president Barack Obama on the sidelines of the UN Assembly, sources close to the prime minister said. He will also gift a rock from the Mount Everest to Obama during the meeting, they said.