On Tuesday, Maoist Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal said he wanted to speak to Delhi directly since they were the 'masters' ruling the 'puppet' government of Nepal. On Wednesday, the party's Vice Chairman Narayankaji Shrestha clarified the statement saying Dahal had only 'hinted' at holding talks with India. Nepalnews reports:
According to Shrestha, Dahal during his address to the mass gathering on Tuesday, had hinted at holding talks with India regarding bilateral treaties and other agreements, but not on the issue of 'civilian supremacy'.
In fact Dahal's statement was meant to be sarcastic, Shrestha told Nagarik:
Shrestha said since Nepal's political parties are unable to make any decisions, Dahal's statement made fun of that by calling for talks with India. "We didn't say we wanted to talk to India about internal affairs.
Dahal's statement on Tuesday had irked many political leaders who said his statement was an open invitation for foreign countries to interfere in Nepali politics. Nagarik quotes leaders of the four main parties:
"Maoists are calling upon Delhi because they have lost the trust of Nepali people, parties and civil society." - Ram Chandra Poudel, Nepali Congress"It's anti-national for leaders of the big parties to say they want to talk to Delhi. Its has shamed the entire nation." - Surya Bahadur Thapa, Rastriya Janashakti Party
"It's against national interest to ask foreigners' help to solve our problems." - Upendra Yadav, Madhes Janadhikar Forum
"The people's representatives have the rights to makes decision in a sovereign country. Maoists' statement has no meaning." - Raghuji Pant, Advisor to the prime minister
Dahal may have made the statement just to arouse populist sentiments, writes Nagarik:
Maoist Chairman Dahal faced pressure to launch an anti-India campaign after Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal returned from Copenhagen saying he had full support from the Indian government and Indian Army Chief Deepak Kapur advised Nepal Army not to integrate Maoists combatants into the national army.
The Kathmandu Post asked some Indian leaders and foreign policy experts to weigh in on Dahal's statement:
While some termed Dahal's speech 'a street talk by an angry leader, others took it as a reflection of the 'India will resolve it all' tendency in Kathmandu.
Former Foreign Minister Yashwant Sinha saw Dahal's speech as contradictory. "They blame India for interfering and they say they want to hold talks with India," Sinha said noting that the onus of resolving Nepal's problems lies with Nepali leaders and elected representatives.
Things are cooling off a little in Kathmandu today. This news just in: the big three parties in the parliament have reached an understanding to finalise the preliminary drafts of the new constitution within two days. Maoists have also decided to end the months-long obstruction of the House, while continuing to fight for 'civilian supremacy'. Nepalnews reports:
However, the party decided to continue its fight for restoration of 'civilian supremacy' and compel other parties to concede that the step taken by the president on the Army chief row was unconstitutional.According to party's vice chairman Narayan Kaji Shrestha, the party would also decide on new forms of protests programmes soon.
We are hoping this decision is not meant to be sarcastic.
(Posted by Indu Nepal)