Maoist leaders contradict each other on changing party name
Hours after Finance Minister and Maoist leader Dr Baburam Bhattarai told
journalists that his party is mulling to change its name, another senior
Maoist leader, Mohan Vaidya, said there are no plans to change the party
name, and that Bhattarai would have to furnish clarification regarding his
statement.
Speaking at the Reporters Club Friday Vaidya, who represents a faction of
hardliners in the Maoist party, claimed that the party is not going to
shed its 'tag name' [Maoist] in near future.
Vaidya said Bhattarai would be asked to clarify his remarks during the
next party meeting. "Those were Bhattarai's personal views," he said,
resenting Bhattarai's publicly statement "on an issue which has not been
decided".
Stating that there are clearly two lines in the Maoist party, Vaidya
however refuted speculation that the internal dispute might lead to a
split, and claimed that party would be further consolidated and united.
Meanwhile, talking to journalists in Nepalgunj today Prime Minister and
Maoist chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal revealed that he had proposed to change
party's name two years back and that the issue is under discussion.
Dahal also stressed the need to induct most Maoist combatants into Nepal
Army and warned of "dire consequences" if obstacles were put in the
process of army integration.
Similarly, Vaidya mentioned that some PLA personnel would be inducted into
the national army while others will be taken into border security force or
industrial security force.
Since the peace agreement has clearly mentioned about the modalities of
army integration, it would not matter even if some parties take to streets
against the process, he added.
While reiterating the party's line in favour of multi-party system, Vaidya
said the Maoists' ultimate goal is to establish People's Republic. nepalnews.com ia Oct 17 08
