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Shifting Stand
Nepali Congress' recent press statement indicates shifts in its earlier stand
By A CORRESPONDENT
Despite its decision to continue peaceful agitation, Nepali Congress seems to have shifted its earlier stand from siding with unreliable extremist forces to launch agitations and confusion over its political stand on terrorism.
In its recent press release, Nepali Congress clears its stands on three issues including its way of looking at Maoists. Nepali Congress out rightly rejected possibility to open a front with Maoists as long they do not lay down their weapons and renounce all kinds of violence. For the first time in many years, Nepali Congress openly rejected the possibility to side with violent groups and expressed commitment to the Constitution of Kingdom of Nepal 1990.
Disagreeing with some party leaders to launch agitation from exile, Nepali Congress called its leaders and workers to return to Nepal as early as possible. Giving up communist style of going underground, Nepali Congress asked all its workers to openly participate in peaceful agitation.
Issued by Nepali Congress party secretary Sobhakar Parajuli, Nepali Congress press release announced its own programs for peaceful disobedience. "We have taken this decision as the policy of national reconciliation propounded by our legendary leader B.P. Koirala," said a senior Congress leader. "Our party is a centrist party and we cannot go to the extent of other leftist extremist parties."
In the last two and a half years, Nepali Congress has done much damage on its image by siding with the extreme ends of politics and some of its leaders have shown that they are not much different than other communist parties.
From calling an alliance with Maoists to give up its party's five decade long tradition, some Congress leaders have toed their line with other extremist group. At a time when Congress is gradually moving towards extremism, how this new policy will bring it to right position remains to be seen.
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