Koirala invites Maoists to sit for talks

August 23, 2005
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Nepali Congress leader Dr Ram Sharan Mahat sharing his experiences during the writing of his book ?In Defense Of Democracy? at the book launching function, Tuesday, Aug 23 05. nepalnews.com/ks

Nepali Congress (NC) president and former Prime Minister, Girija Prasad Koirala, has said that the opposition parties were ready to begin dialogues with the Maoists provided the insurgents renounce violence.

Terming the Maoists problem as a political one, the NC number one said, “Political problems must be solved politically.” He said this while addressing a book-launching function in the capital. Koirala launched a book ‘In Defence of Democracy’ by an NC leader and former minister Dr Ram Sharan Mahat on Tuesday afternoon.

Only on Monday, a meeting of the seven agitating political parties decided to form a team to negotiate with the Maoists ‘very soon’.

Speaking at the function, the congress veteran alleged His Majesty of the current instability in the Kingdom. He said, “Ploy against democracy began soon after the royal massacre.” He did not elaborate.

The four-time Prime Minister, Koirala also admitted that the political leaders committed mistakes during the democratic regime. “We did make mistakes but it was due to the lack of knowledge,” he said. “However, democracy must not be penalized due to mistakes of its actors,” he added.

Meanwhile, speaking during the function author of newly launched book Dr. Ram Sharan Mahat said that Nepal achieved much during the 12 years of active democracy. He said, “literacy rates improved, roads were built, development stepped up and people were empowered the most in the country’ s history.”

Similarly, Nepal’s veteran geographer and planner, Dr Harka Gurung and senior journalist, Kanak Mani Dixit, urged for immediate restoration of democracy in the Kingdom.