Dahal's proposal to hold referendum on border dispute draws ridicule from cadres

A number representatives of the UCPN (Maoist)'s ongoing general convention have rejected party chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal's proposal to resolve the country's border dispute with India "through referendum", demanding that Dahal should instead explain the party's view towards India and the USA as these countries would figure in earlier documents as 'expansionist' and 'imperialist' respectively.

"How can border dispute be resolved by referendum? This is completely illogical," a representative questioned, "Border dispute is not something that is resolved by referendum. A panel of border experts should study and suggest ways."

According to him, a number of representatives complained that the party chairman's document was mum on "how to view India and the USA" and that he should clarify this in the document.

Similarly, speaking to reporters during a break in the closed door debate, representatives said that most of the discussion groups complained about the extravagant lifestyle of the central leaders.

"At the Bhrikuti Mandap plenum, the leaders had pledged that they would check the bourgeois trend growing within the central leadership. This time too questions have been raised about their living style," a female cadre said. Nepalnews.com