QUOTE UNQUOTE(Spotlight Weekly)

“There is no room for use of violence to create political change in a democracy.”

Colin Powell, US Secretary of State, during his visit to Nepal.

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“Earlier Maoists used to raise donations from the public, now we have to raise tax to finish them. They used to collect funds to harm people, we do so to protect them.”

Prime minister Sher Bahadur Deuba, defending his government's decision to raise taxes, in Bimarsha.

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“It has been four years since we split. Naturally, it will take some time for our reunification.”

Madhav Kumar Nepal, general secretary of Unified Marxist Leninist, reacting to the delay in the reunification of the UML and ML.

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“If the UML does not accept its mistake in Mahakali Treaty, we will go for reunification adhering to our different opinion.”

Bamdev Gautam, general secretary of Marxist Leninist, in Deshantar.

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“If they (Girijababu and Kishunji) still fight for power, the country will never develop.”

Rajendra Kharel, Minister for Women and Social Welfare, in Kantipur.

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“I want to put it clearly, the Mahakali chapter is closed. The UML will not raise this issue again.”

Bharat Mohan Adhikary, standing committee member of Unified Marxist Leninist, in Bimarsha.

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“The money earned illegally won't be legal just because of paying tax.”

Surya Nath Upadhyaya, chief of the Commission for Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA), commenting on the government's Voluntary Disclosure of Income Scheme (VDIS), in Deshantar.

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“After the security forces defeated them, the Maoists are now engaged in killing innocent people.”

Khum Bahadur Khadka, Home Minister, saying that the mobilization of security forces has greatly reduced Maoists' strength.

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