Sixteen years after he had submitted 40-point demand to the Sher Bahadur Deuba government and declared war on the Nepali state, Baburam Bhattarai faces a historical irony as he received 70-point demand on behalf of the same state, from his erstwhile comrades who have also threatened to launch a ‘People’s War’ if their demands are not met.
On Monday, CPN-Maoist Vice Chairman CP Gajurel met Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai in his office and formally handed over the demand. After reading the demands Bhattarai told Gajurel that many of the demands were ‘not practical’ and difficult to address, to which Gajurel instantly replied, “ Please read carefully. Most of the demands were drafted by you.”
The demands include scrapping of ‘unequal’ treaties like 1950 Friendship Treaty and more recently Bilateral Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement (BIPPA), the decision to hand over the management of the Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) to an Indian firm and regulation of open border with India.
The demand will add to miseries of Bhattarai, who already faces challenges from ministers in his own cabinet, is embarrassed by President’s rejection of ordinance by his cabinet, perturbed by opposition’s attacks and media’s incessant criticism of his government.