What went on?

ONSNEWS: Why did you make the photo of Madhesi and Maoist leaders sharing a drink public?

Jay Prakash Gupta: As you know, I was one of the chief architects of the Maoist-Madhesi alliance and I even drafted the agreement that day. But the Madhesi parties, the Maoists, and other opportunists used the Supreme Court to finish my career.

Why are they conspiring against you?

Some leaders were not happy with the Madhesi-Maoist four-point agreement in 2011. But I took a stand saying the Bhattarai government will not last long if the agreement was not followed. I even said the Madhesi parties must leave government if the agreement was not followed and that is where they began their games.

But you have been accused of corruption for a long time now?

We’re talking about a long chain of events here, from the days of the royal rule. Why did King Gyanendra put me under house arrest, when he took absolute power, even though the courts ruled that I should be set free? I was given a clean chit by the special court in 2006, but five years later they punished me.

What was India’s hand in the four-point agreement?

A lot of people say that India interfered, but I don’t see it that way. In fact, India was angry with the NC and UML for forging an alliance with the Maoists. The Indian establishment wished against such an alliance and all the Madhesi leaders understood this. But there were a lot of differences about this within the Maoists and Madhesi parties.

What is your relation with Madhesi parties?

There are two factions in Madhesi politics. One took part in the Constitution Assembly and sold out just to get into power. These people cannot address the real issues of Madhes and they will fool Madhesis as long as they are in power. The other sort want a new power in Madhes to fight for the people’s benefit. I am with the second sort even though I cannot take part in their politics.