Post Report

KATHMANDU, Dec 9 – Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba today came under fire from opponents in his own party for failing to resort to harsher means against the Maoist rebels “right from the beginning” instead of opting for the peace talks.

At the meeting of Nepali Congress (NC) lawmakers and Central Working Committee (CWC), members in the anti-Deuba camp criticized Deuba for the failed peace talks with the rebels which was disrupted after three rounds.

These members, who are mainly supporters of party president Girija Prasad Koirala, severely criticized Deuba for first criticizing his predecessor Koirala for taking a harsh stand against the Maoists and now opting for the same option.

During Koirala’s premiership, he had tried to use the Royal Nepal Army (RNA) against the rebels and had taken strong stand against them. Deuba had criticized the move and once he became Prime Minister he immediately announced a cease-fire and called for peace talks.

However, none of the members at the meet today said anything against the state of emergency imposed and the ongoing military operations against the Maoists going on for the past two week.

The members gave their full endorsement to the decision to impose the emergency and asked the government to take maximum precaution to ensure that innocent people are not effected by the emergency.

“It was necessary to try once and resolve the problem through peace talks with the Maoists … but they denied that option and the government was left with no alternative but to battle against them,” Deuba told the meet. “This is a fight against terrorism and we will defeat them.”

Koirala and his closest aide, General Secretary Sushil Koirala, did not utter any word against the government or Deuba. Instead they pledged full support for the decision by the government.

“The government should move ahead by taking into confidence both NC and the opposition parties,” Koirala said. “Maoists are terrorists and everyone should join forces in the battle against them.”

Senior NC leader Krishna Prasad Bhattarai said both the government and the party should join forces to face the present situation in the country.

Central leader Ram Chandra Poudel assured that the state would not take any advantage from the state of emergency since the decision was taken after garnering both national and international support.

Some members demanded that the scenes of the military operation and the casualty on the rebel side should be broadcast on the national television. But Deuba told them that the army was too busy fighting and did not have time to take pictures.

According to party spokesman Arjun Narsingh K.C., the meeting decided that the government should come up with special relief programs for the people, control corruption, cut down on unnecessary expenses and strictly maintain financial discipline.