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| Kathmandu, Monday December 08, 2003 Mangshir 22, 2060. |
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Last minute glitches delay joint stir
takeoff
By DAMARU LAL BHANDARI
KATHMANDU, Dec 7 - The five agitating parties today failed to
announce the month-long protest programmes owing to discord over its nature and scope even
as the CPN-UML sought some time to settle its intra-party disagreements.
The party is slated to debate issues relating to the movement
and possible options at its Standing Committee in the next few days before it comes back
with its wholehearted suggestions.
Meanwhile, the Nepali Congress (NC) President Girija Prasad
Koirala today reiterated the need for an all-out agitation. "The objectives are least
likely to be achieved by an agitation which cannot produce much steam," NC spokesman
Arjun Narsingh KC added in support.
Leaders of the other parties including the CPN-UML General
Secretary Madhav Kumar Nepal shared similar views. However, sources in the five-party
alliance claimed that in comparison to Nepal, the CPN-UML leader K P Sharma Oli was found
"ambivalent", although he, too, suggested a concerted movement.
The differences between the duo comes at a time when two
other leaders of the party, Jhala Nath Khanal and Bam Dev Gautam, have demonstrated
inclination to strike an inexplicable rapport with government ministers recently despite
understanding to the contrary.
The instances of Khanal taking part in a television talk show
with Minister Hari Bahadur Basnet as one of the panelists and Gautam making a
representation with Finance Minister Dr Prakash Chandra Lohani recently are being cited as
examples of Nepal struggling to restore order within the party.
However, party spokesman Subhas Nemwang has debunked claims
of any "differences" among the leaders. But this is not deterring incessant
comments from other parties.
"Nepal cannot risk pledging all-out support to the
agitation until and unless he reins in the party leaders," a source said, hinting at
possible discord in the party over the nature of the protest and partners.
The source further said that the CPN-UML leader Oli is still
infatuated with the idea of taking the party led by Sher Bahadur Deuba as the sixth
partner, something which the NC and the Nepal Sadbhavana Party (Anandi), among others,
have pooh-poohed.
"We cannot take them until and unless they back the
18-point agenda," said Bhogendra Thakur of the NSP (Anandi).
Nepal Workers and Peasants Party (NWPP) leader Narayan Man
Bijukche added that the parties should not take Deuba as long as he does not tender an
apology for fostering ‘regression’ in politics.Meanwhile, speaking at the very
outset, NC leader Koirala while reassuring that foreign backing to the movement was a
foregone conclusion added that "it was essential to start the agitation on an
impressive note."
In fact, Koirala was of the view that the parties must
present the agitation as something that has no alternative. By denying to join the Surya
Bahadur Thapa government, the parties have put to rest the speculation that they could be
expected to join it. The statement has flayed the reports of the government going in for
election as a ploy to perpetuate its longevity.
The meeting held at the NC office have decided to stage a
protest rally on December 10 at the city centre and hold demonstrations across the country
on December 16. The parties will meet on December 10 at the NC office to draw up the
month-long protest programme.
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