Former Prime Minister and President of Nepali Congress Democratic Sher Bahadur Deuba has said that management of Maoists’ weapons was a must before they joined the interim government.
Former premier Sher Bahadur Deuba
Former Prime Minister and President of Nepali Congress Democratic Sher Bahadur Deuba.
(File Photo)
“Maoists should not be included in the interim government until the management of their weapons, dissolution of people’s government and people’s courts. They should also return the seized properties,” reports quoted Deuba, who is currently in India visit as saying while addressing a press conference at the head office of Nationalist Congress Party on Friday.
Calling on the rebel Maoists to give up three things–abductions, extortions and armed movement–before constituent assembly elections, Deuba expressed hope that the rebels would eventually cooperate with the SPA government, which has formally invited the United Nations to start monitoring the arms possessed by the rebels and the national army.
On the issue of ceremonial role for the monarchy in the ‘new Nepal’, Deuba said, “It entirely depends on the people of Nepal.”
Deuba also called on Sonia Gandhi, the president of the Congress party in India, former Prime Minister Indra Kumar Gujral, Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee, leader of Bharatiya Janata Party LK Advani and Nationalist Congress leader DP Tripathi separately.
Before winding up his two-week visit at the invitation of NCP General Secretary DP Tripathy, he is also scheduled to meet Indian Prime Minister Man Mohan Singh and meet with Communist Party of India-Marxist leaders Prakash Karat and Sitaram Yechuri.