HEADLINE NEWS THE RISING NEPAL (DAILY)

Dialogue only option for peace: Koirala

By A Staff Reporter

Kathmandu, Apr. 22: The Nepali Congress President has said that the Maoist terror and violence can end only through dialogue.

"Since the problems of violence and terror in other parts of the world have also been resolved through dialogue, the government must keep its door open for talks with the Maoists," President Girija Prasad Koirala said at a gathering of lawmakers at the party’s central office in Teku, Kathmandu this morning.

At the reception, traditionally held for parliamentarians after the conclusion of the House session, ruling party chief Koirala instructed the Congress lawmakers to take stock of the law and order situation in their districts and try to resolve the people’s sufferings caused by the Maoists.

He asked lawmakers to visit district headquarters and villages to create confidence in the Congress workers and supporters affected by Maoists’ violence and intimidation.

He said he supported the idea of forging a greater democratic alliance and amending the Constitution to find a solution to the current situation.

"Parliament is the right place to find an answer to any problem. My views were meant to give a message to the Maoists that the Constitutional amendment could find a way out of the present crisis and establish the authority of Parliament," Koirala said.

"To tackle the Maoist terror, joint efforts on the ideological and security fronts should be launched. The government will take care of the security front while the ideological aspect is handled at the political level."

Koirala said that both the country and the Nepali Congress were in a crisis. "Congress cadres should commit themselves to create a history and seriously analyse the sensitivities of the country," said Koirala, who gave his first public speech after returning from a six-day visit to India. "The economy is in a shambles. In such a situation, the donor nations could increase their activities and pressures."

NC general secretary Sushil Koirala stressed the need for the party to move ahead with greater unity and better organisation to fight the crisis.

He said the government should be more serious in ensuring coordination among security units and improving law and order.

"The political parties and the general people should have high morale to defeat violence, and terror."

Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba said the 21st session of Parliament passed important bills that would have a long-term and positive impact.

Maoists, who are weakening the country and the people, are criminals, Deuba said. "Even a foreign enemy cannot commit such a crime," he said. "All political parties are united in our fight against terror and foreign friendly nations have supported us in our campaign. The Maoists will be defeated."

He pledged the government’s support for the ideological campaign against Maoists.

All Congress Central Committee members and Members of Parliament presently in Kathmandu attended the gathering where joint general secretary Govinda Raj Joshi threw light on the tradition and objectives of the reception.

Koirala condemned the Maoists who were destroying development infrastructure and pushing the country further down on the path of deprivation.

Calling upon the government to become more active, Koirala asked the lawmakers to take the spirit of the Broader Democratice Alliance to the people’s level. The Party President usually holds a reception after the conclusion of the session of the Parliament.

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