NATIONAL 4 - (Spotlight Weekly)

‘We Have Been Compelled To Organize A Three-Day Strike’

-- BHARAT MOHAN ADHIKARY

Chief whip of the CPN-UML BHARAT MOHAN ADHIKARY argues that the three-day general strike called by CPN-UML, along with five communist parties, will not be withdrawn until Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala resigns. Adhikary spoke to SPOTLIGHT on various issues affecting contemporary politics. Excerpts:

What issues did you discuss in your recent meeting with the business community?

We discussed issues related to the budget with the business community. As the main opposition party, it is our duty to listen to the voice of business community. We also held discussions on the implications and effect of the ongoing budget.

At a time when your party has called a three-day general strike that would paralyze the national economy, what is the use of your talks on economic issues?

We know that the general strike will damage the national economy, but how can we let Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala to go scot-free when he has violated the law. It is our political compulsion to call three-day general strike.

If you find it rational to call a three-day general strike to force Prime Minister Koirala to resign, why don't you organize an indefinite general strike until he steps down?

We don't want to harm the country for a long time. As I told you, organizing the three-day strike is our compulsion.

If an indefinite general strike harms the country, how do you believe that the three-day stoppage will not take its toll on the national economy?

When all the political doors are closed, we don't have an alternative to calling a general strike. People have to sacrifice something to gain something more valuable.

Do you mean paralyzing the economy is a sacrifice?

When the law-and-order situation is getting worse, corruption is growing rampant and there is no sense of governance, what can be the rational to support the government. If the law-and-order situation improves and corruption is controlled, the economy will automatically improve.

It is said that intellectuals and the business community have expressed anger over your call for a general strike. Is this true?

The business community requested us to withdraw the general strike. We reminded them that they also called a general strike during the anti-VAT campaign three years ago. Similiary, the CPN-UML has called the general strike to pressure a corrupt prime minister to resign.

As the main opposition party and government in waiting, how can you justify the use of unconstitutional methods to oust the prime minister?

We were forced to announce drastic steps after the prime minister failed to abide by rules of the game. What moral and legal ground does Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala have to remain in power when the Commission of Investigation of Abuse of Authority has demanded his clarification on the Lauda Air deal? If the prime minister does not abide by constitution, why should we alone abide by it.

Do you mean your party also wants to go against the constitution to oust prime minister?

The people are supreme in a democracy. They have every right to take action against a corrupt prime minister.

Who has the final authority to decide the fate of the prime minister? It is your party or the Congress parliamentary party?

We know that the Congress parliamentary party has the right to choose its leader. When they failed to do so, the opposition party also has a certain role to play. At a time when Prime Minister Koirala even flouted the suggestions of his colleagues Krishna Prasad Bhattarai and Sher Bahadur Deuba, we have to force him to resign.

Do you think prime minister will resign?

Indications that Koirala will resign within a few days so we don't have to go for a three-day strike. Even Deputy Prime Minister Ram Chandra Poudel has hinted that Prime Minister Koirala will resign.

If Koirala refuses to resign, what is the possibility of your withdrawing the general strike?

We will not withdraw it as long as Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala remains in office.

How can you claim yourself to be a messiah of the poor people when the general strike called by your party will hit the poor people and peasants living in the rural parts of the country? Don't you think the general strike will give you a bad name?

Since we are calling the general strike to improve the country's performance and punish the corrupt people the common citizens will take it in good faith. I have already told you that we need to make some sacrifice to achievement something better. We overthrew the Panchayat system by calling strikes.