Baburam Bhattarai, vice-chairman of the Unified Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist), arrived here on Wednesday to engage in political consultations and attend a conference on Nepal-India relations. During the three-day visit, he plans to convey the serious nature of the political crisis in Nepal and ‘clear misunderstandings' between the Indian establishment and Nepali Maoists.
On Wednesday evening, the Maoist leader is learnt to have met Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee, National Security Adviser Shiv Shanker Menon, and Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao.
In an exclusive interview to The Hindu immediately after his arrival, Dr. Bhattarai said: “The 12-point understanding signed between political parties and Maoists in Delhi in 2005 has virtually broken down.” He added, “After our victory in the Constituent Assembly [CA] elections, regressive forces could not accept the ground reality that Maoists are the most popular political force. They engaged in a strategy of encircling and isolating the Maoists.”
Asked if India had played a role in keeping the Maoists out of power, Dr. Bhattarai said: “That is the general perception. Maybe the Indian side had more expectations, and we did not fulfil it. I hope during my visit, I get a chance to interact with important leaders, understand their position and clarify our stand on behalf of my party.”
The Maoist leader said his key message to Indian interlocutors would be to change their mindset. “Nepali people and parties are quite sensitive to India's genuine interests in the regional context, but we request them to understand that things have changed. If India honours the aspirations of the Nepali people and agrees to restructure the old relations to suit the conditions of the 21st century, both sides will benefit. Peace, stability, democracy and development in Nepal are in India's interest.”
Dr. Bhattarai refuted allegations that Maoists harboured authoritarian ambitions. “We are committed to the principle of multiparty competitive politics. We have explicitly said so in our draft constitution, and have practised it — including while we were in government.”
Accusing the other parties of turning their back on the peace agreement, he said: “Maoists have consistently stood for the integration of the Maoist Army and the democratisation of the Nepal Army. It is the other leaders, including the Defence Minister, who have publicly spoken against this.”
Admits to differences
Dr. Bhattarai, who recently registered a note of dissent against chairman Prachanda's document at a party central committee meeting, admitted that there were ‘political and ideological differences' within the party. “There are some debates on whether to give primacy to democracy or nationalism. But all of us agree that we will do our utmost to make the peace and democratic process a success. Only if there is counter-revolution, or the task of socio-economic transformation is blocked, people have a right to rebel as the last resort theoretically.” He also ruled out any possibility of a split in the party. “I have been in the movement for 30 years. There is absolutely no question of walking out.”
He warned that the peace process is in a very critical phase, with the scheduled departure of the United Nations Mission in Nepal (UNMIN) on January 15, and the deadline for Constitution writing on May 28. “In this final phase of implementation of the peace process, UNMIN is needed more than ever. If UNMIN leaves, the peace process could well collapse which will benefit no one.”
Appealing to all forces ‘inside and outside' the country to forge a political consensus on the Constitution, Dr. Bhattarai said: “If the CA is dissolved, all the democratic gains of the past 60 years will be frittered away. Nepal will fall into the spiral of political vacuum, autocracy and counter-revolution and conflict.”
