NATIONAL 3 -(Spotlight Weekly)

Agenda For Agitation

UML sets agenda for agitation in its third national council meet

By RAMESH POUDEL in Pokhara

Despite the differences within the top leadership, CPN-UML's second national convention endorsed the political proposal presented by general secretary Madhav Kumar Nepal.

A gathering at Pokhara was tense in the opening days as large number of party workers was divided on the issues raised in the political paper.

Although followers of powerful CPN-UML leader K. P. Sharma Oli raised dissenting voices regarding the political paper, the convention endorsed it without any amendment.

One of the major highlights of three-day convention was that it established the leadership of general secretary Madhav Kumar Nepal and cut down the size of K. P. Sharma Oli.

From the first day to the concluding day, UML workers maintained their decorum. In the inaugural session, some party workers tried to make noise on general secretary's political paper. The political paper analyzes the current political situation in the country and party's views and strategies toward them.

The council members also opposed the idea to provide pension the former members of parliament and asked the party to review its stand on it. The party has also announced an agitation program against recent price hike in essential commodities and services and deteriorating law and order situation, among others. The agitation will kick off in the second week of January, next year and will last for one and a half-month. The agitation programs include postering, pamphleting, organizing mass meetings, picketing and burning effigies of the Prime Minister. ìWe may unite with other opposition parties as well, if the need be, to give momentum to our agitation,î said UML general secretary Madhav Kumar Nepal, addressing the partyís mass meeting in Pokhara on Sunday.

After witnessing defeats in the by-polls in all three parliamentary constituencies that went to polls recently, the UML got its strength tested in the parliament by registering a stricture motion on recent price hike. As majority rejected the motion, the party was compelled to take its agenda to people through street protests. At the same time to control damage that the party had undergone due to split, it needs some programs to engage its workers. Otherwise, they could be lured away by its rival, radical CPN (ML), led by Bamdev Gautam.

One of the positive points of this convention, according to analysts, is that UML gives priority to parliamentary struggle and it will orchestrate its transformation into a liberal democratic party though it still carries the brand name of Marxist-Leninists.

NATIONAL RECONCILIATION

Forgotten Agenda

After more than two decades, B. P. Koiralaís policy is still relevant

By A CORRESPONDENT

Nepali Congress follows different calendars in a year but it seems to forget National Reconciliation Day (Dec. 31)- the greatest day in its history when late B. P. Koirala returned to country with possible death penalty pending against him in 1976.

Twenty- three years after his arrival, Nepali Congress is leading the country and issues raised by late Koirala are equally relevant. The question is: is anybody listening?

At a time when Nepali Congress leaders are fighting against each other to establish their supremacy, no body seems to seems serious toward the historic statement delivered by Koirala when he voluntarily chose to return home from nearly a decade of political exile in India.

Upon his arrival, Koirala issued a statement urging for the need of national reconciliation between the King and democratic forces in the country. At a time when, King of Iran had left the country and Islamic fundamentalists were making their stronghold in Afghanistan, he saw threats of external forces and destabilization.

One of the main objectives of his philosophy was to forge alliance between democratic and traditional forces to safeguard countryís sovereignty and national unity. Though some his own party colleagues were unhappy with his with his policy then, they realized its importance within few years.

With South Asia becoming nuclear and regional tension on the escalation, B. P. Koirala's policy of national reconciliation remains equally important . Will NC bigwigís listen?