The incredible shrinking numbers of PLA enlistees in the national Nepal Army

REPUBLICA, April 20, 2012 3,129 for integration

KATHMANDU, April 20: Only 3,129 Maoist combatants have chosen integration into the Nepal Army by the time of completion of the voluntary retirement process in all the cantonments on Thursday. According to Balananda Sharma, coordinator of the Special Committee secretariat, altogether 6,576 combatants chose voluntary retirement and they have been released from the cantonments. There were 9,705 combatants who had opted for integration in the first phase of categorization last November. The Special Committee had carried out a second phase categorization as the number of combatants choosing integration was much higher than the allotted quota of 6,500.

Nepal: A “party within the party” for revolutionary Maoists

[The line struggle within the UCPN(M) between the "people's revolution" faction vs. the "bourgeois republic" faction has now led to separate organized forms within the overall-dysfunctional party.  While debates have led to organizing separate, and opposing, programmatic paths, the issues remain largely unsettled.  Chief among them seem to be: to re-ignite and carry forward the people's revolutionary armed struggle, OR to squander the remaining (disarmed) PLA forces on ever-shrinking plans for integrating PLA fighters and officers into the Nepalese Army; the question of advancing land reform of the peasants against the feudal landlords, OR to permit the return of lands and privileges to the feudal system in the countryside; whether to advance the struggle for New Democracy with revolutionary communist leadership, OR to retreat further into the opportunist swamp of the bourgeois republic and neo-colonial/comprador relations.  Revolutionary politics once shaped and crystallized the mission of the people's war; then, with the abandonment of the PW in 2006, the questions became confined to inner-party struggle.  Now the questions and debates and actions are returning to the streets and villages.  The revolutionary Nepalese people are looking to leaders like Kiran, Gajurel, and Thapa to step forward, and lead. -- Frontlines ed.]

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Mohan Baidya "Kiran"

Nepal’s Maoist leader fires a salvo at his own party government

by Prashant Jha, The Hindu, Kathmandu, March 26, 2012

People are being betrayed on the Constitution, says Kiran

Senior vice-chairperson of the Unified Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) Mohan Vaidya ‘Kiran’ has said if the integration of the People’s Liberation Army is not “respectable” and a People’s Federal Republican Constitution is not drafted, the Nepali people will have a “right to revolt” again. In an exclusive interview to The Hindu, Mr. Kiran reiterated the demand for the resignation of the government, led by his party colleague Dr. Baburam Bhattarai.

Saying there was an ongoing battle in the party between “right-wing revisionism” and “revolutionary Marxism”, Mr. Kiran said: “We are not against peace and Constitution. But the debate is if our party has made anti-people compromises.”

Hari Bol Gajurel

‘Mistakes’

Mr. Kiran said while the goal of a “democratic republic” — set by the Maoist party in 2005, which led to an alliance with other parties against the monarchy — was tactically right, it could not solve people’s problems and the party should have aimed to establish a “People’s Federal Republic” or a “People’s Democracy’. Asked if this meant one-party rule by the Maoists, he said: “Parliamentary democracy is also class hegemony where five per cent rule over 95 per cent. In people’s dictatorship, it would be the other way round.”

Pointing to mistakes committed by the party, the Maoist ideologue said that during the war they had created an “army, base areas, people’s governments”.

The base areas were opened up and the parallel governments dissolved soon after the Maoists entered open politics in 2006. Mr. Kiran claimed this was wrong and not in favour of the people whose issues Maoists had raised.

Ram Bahadur Thapa 'Badal'

“On integration of our army, the party stand was it should be collective and armed integration of combatants with the chain of command of PLA intact. But what is happening now is disarmament. A national security policy should have been framed first, but we did not pay attention to that either,” he said.

To have a people’s Constitution, Mr Kiran said, there be provisions for “ethnic autonomy; right to self determination; special rights for Dalits, Muslims and women; right to food, education, health and work; revolutionary land reform; and a proportional representation based electoral system”. “But we fear that Nepali people are being betrayed on the Constitution as well.”

Mr. Kiran also reiterated the demand for the government’s resignation. Accusing it of “surrendering to India”, he said: “It signed the Bilateral Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement [BIPPA] with India without consulting anyone. We had opposed unequal treaties in the past. But the Energy Minister of this government, from our own party, went and approved the Pancheshwor agreement in Delhi recently. They are now talking of a DPR [detailed project report] for the Kosi high dam, despite popular opposition.”

Party unity

The political rift within the Maoists has translated into operational disunity, with the establishment faction of chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ and Prime Minister Dr. Bhattarai calling meetings of their own loyalists while Mr. Kiran’s dissident faction holds parallel meetings. Separate committees have been set up at all levels, separate offices are used as a base and independent programmes are held.

Admitting that it was an “unnatural” situation, Mr. Kiran called it a situation of a “party within a party, organisation within an organisation”. Asked if the party would split, he said: “That depends on the principles, political roadmap, tactics and strategy which the party will undertake. There is a complex two-line struggle at present. Can we take that forward and resolve it positively? Revolutionaries don’t split; they revolt. If the leadership turns opportunist; a federal, anti-imperial, pro people’s Constitution is not made; and if PLA is not respectfully integrated, Nepali people have the right to revolt.”

Nepal: Maoist establishment postpones meet with revolutionary Maoists–indefinitely

Nepal Today, Monday, March 26, 2012
MAOIST CENTRAL COMMITTEE MEET POSTPONED INDEFINITELY

Kathmandu, 27 March: A meeting of the Maoist central committee that was postponed for one day Monday citing inadequate preparation has now been indefinitely postponed amid serious internal party differences.

Maoist establishment of Chairman Prachanda and Prime Minister Baburai Bhattarai had convened the central committee meeting Monday to discuss differences jointly but the meet was boycotted by dissidents led by First Vice-chairman Mohan Baidhaya who has mobilized a national campaign against the UCPN (Maoist) establishment and the government led by Second Vice-chairman Baburam Bhattarai.

Secretary CP Gajurel, who has sided with the Baidhaya camp, said Monday the government is undergoing treatment at the ICU. and is on its
death bed.

nnnn

Nepal: Disqualified fighters occupy party office

Disqualified fighters wage war against party –  Capture Maoist offices in Surkhet ; Say their protest in last stage

HIMALAYAN NEWS SERVICE,  2012-03-22

Disqualified Maoist fighters protesting

SURKHET: Maoist PLA fighters, who were disqualified during a verification carried out by the United Nations Mission in Nepal, today besieged offices of Maoist district committee and Bheri Karnali state committee in Surkhet to protest party leadership’s deliberate neglect of duty to pay attention to their plight.

About three dozen disqualified fighters reached the offices at around 3pm today and barred party leaders and cadres from entering. “We will not allow anyone to enter the office until our demands are met,” said Naradmani Poudel, one of the disqualified fighters. “These offices belong to us from today and anyone trying to enter forcefully will face the consequences.” The disqualified combatants also seized a car and two motorcycles belonging to Dashrathpur-based 6th Division Cantonment.

“We held talks with the party, submitted memorandum and took other peaceful measures to draw the party’s attention to our plight, but all went in vain. So, we are now in the final stage of our protest,” said Poudel. “The party coaxed us into joining the force when it needed us during the war, and now it is trying to welsh on its commitment. For us, the war is not over, and we are fighting for our rights,” added Poudel as he bristled with anger.

Khadga Bahadur Ramtel, secretary of the disqualified fighters for the mid-western region said, “The party made false promises and ruined our future. It’s high time we launched another war against the party to make it guarantee our future.” He warned of intensifying protests if the party did not ensure basic facilities to them.

Oops! Was he supposed to say that?

[Things slip--sometimes by accident, sometimes on purpose, sometimes as a trial balloon ("Run it up the flagpole and see who salutes.")  But when these relations are more deeply exposed, it's a good time to watch whether the embrace continues, unbroken, and who tries to cover their face.  Here, the statement of the Pentagon commander is reported; the following stories report the denials by India and Nepal. -- Frontlines ed.]

Pentagon commander says US special forces in India

02 March 12, 2012

US special forces are present in five South Asian countries, including India, a top Pentagon commander has revealed.

US Pacific Commander Admiral Robert Willard said the teams were deployed to help India with their counter-terrorism co-operation.

The US and India were working together to contain Lashkar-e-Taiba, a Pakistan-based militant group blamed for the 2008 Mumbai attacks, he said.

The US embassy in Delhi clarified that the troops were not stationed in India.

A spokesman told the BBC that there were “no special forces stationed in India”, as media reports had suggested.

The embassy and India’s ministry of defence said a unit from the US 25th infantry division was in India to hold an exercise with Indian forces.

‘Working closely’

Adm Willard said US teams were also present in Nepal, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Maldives.

“We have currently special forces assist teams – Pacific assist teams is the term – laid down in Nepal, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Maldives, as well as India,” Adm Willard told a Congressional hearing.

“We are working very closely with India with regard to their counter-terrorism capabilities and in particular on the maritime domain but also government to government, not necessarily department of defence but other agencies assisting them in terms of their internal counter-terror and counterinsurgency challenges.”

The Announcement that launched The People’s War in Nepal, 17 Years Ago Today

March Along the Path of People’s War!

(thenextfront.com, a revolutionary Maoist website in Nepal, has posted the first announcement of the People’s War (from the time of its launching 17 years ago).  The Next front commented about the challenge this posting gives to those who aim to continue the struggle, despite–and against–the revisionists who have abandoned the people’s war:  “This time we are posting the historic leaflet, which was distributed in hundreds of thousands of copies all over the country at the time of the great initiation of the People’s War on 13 February 1996. Since then 17 years have passed. The mission of People’s War has not fulfilled. The revisionists abandoned the People’s War. They have turned themselves into the true renegades of 21st  century. Now they are in practice of bourgeois democracy. But the class struggle is not ended, the People’s War is going on. In fact, the new phase of People’s War has begun. Revolutionaries have raised the flag of revolution . Dear Comrades ! let us march Along the Path of People’s War! It is Right to Rebel! Red salute ! to our great Martyrs.”)

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Militia members and villagers in Rukum District, Western Nepal. (photo by Li Onesto)

March Along the Path of People’s War to Smash the Reactionary State and Establish a New Democratic State!
Dear Masses of the People,
Today Nepalese society is in a state of grave crisis, whether economically, politically, culturally or otherwise. Where has the present state that has been harping about development and construction for the last fifty years landed Nepal economically? It has landed Nepal in the position of second poorest country in the world after Ethiopia. This state that does not manufacture even a needle in the name of a self-reliant and national economy has handed over the whole economy of the country to a dozen families of the foreign comprador and bureaucrat capitalists. Whereas this handful of plunderers have become billionaires, the real masters of this country and the national property, the toiling masses of Nepal, are forced to eke out a meager existence of deprivation and poverty. The sons and daughters of Nepalese peasants and workers reeling under unemployment and poverty are compelled to lead a miserable life of dishonour and neglect in India and different parts of the world to earn their daily bread. After piling a massive foreign debt burden even on the future generations of the Nepalese people, the feudal and comprador and bureaucrat capitalist rulers are making merry on it. In the name of privatization and liberalization under the guidance and for the benefit of the foreign capitalists, the process of mortgaging the whole country to the comprador and bureaucrat capitalists is now in full swing.

Maoist militia women in Rolpa district, Western Nepal (photo by Li Onesto)

The burden of this economic degradation has to be basically borne by the peasantry, which constitute ninety percent of the population. That every new government formed under this state structure pushes and will push the country economically into a further state of bankruptcy has been historically verified.

To maintain hegemony of one religion (Hinduism), language (Nepalese) and nationality (Khas), this state has for centuries exercised discrimination, exploitation and oppression against other religions, languages and nationalities and has conspired to fragment the force of national unity that is vital for the proper development and security of the country. On the contrary, it has been prostrating itself before the foreign imperialists and expansionists and repeatedly mortgaging Nepal’s national honour and sovereignty to them. The present state has been shamelessly permitting the foreign plunderers to grab the natural water resources of Nepal and to trample upon our motherland. If this process is allowed to continue in the future, the patriotic, conscious and self-esteemed Nepalese have no doubt that the very existence of Nepal will be in jeopardy.
The present state has declared war against the development of the national culture of the Nepalese people by flooding the country with corrupt, licentious and distorted imperialist culture. The feudal and imperialist forces are doing their utmost to replace the democratic cultural values and ideals with Freudian, nihilist and anarchic values. This is a sequel to the conspiracy of the reactionary classes to corrupt the people culturally and preserve their own heaven of plunder. This corrupt cultural value is no less responsible for the burgeoning of drug-trafficking, smuggling, thievery, black marketeering, looting, murder and rape in the society today.
Within this moribund state structure, a coalition government of Panchas (royalists) and Nepali Congress, defamed in Nepalese history for their anti-national and genocidal deeds, is ruling right now. This government has forced not only the peasants and workers of Nepal but also the people of different categories and professions to live in a state of scarcity, injustice and terror. Whereas this state has been treating women as second-class citizens for a long time, now it has intensified rape, trafficking and the process of commoditization through advertisements against them. The whole educational system is tuned to produce slaves for this state and there is rampant anarchy in it. Thus, be they workers, peasants, women, teachers, students, small traders, lower-ranking civil servants, doctors, professors, or people of different classes including the national bourgeoisie, all are victims of this state of feudals and comprador and bureaucrat capitalists. Except for radical change in all spheres, any possibility of reform has now become a mere chimera.

Nepal: Prime Minister Bhattarai plans to return liberated lands to feudal landlords

Baidya faction demands PM’s resignation

by POST B BASNET, Republica KATHMANDU, Feb 10: The Maoist radical faction has demanded the resignation of Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai over the cabinet decision on Thursday to ditch the plan to legalize land transactions effected under the arbitration of the then CPN (Maoist) during the conflict period. The party radicals led by Senior Vice-chairman Mohan Baidya took strong exception to the cabinet decision during a meeting of the party Standing Committee on Thursday afternoon, and demanded that the prime minister step down. “The latest cabinet decision amounts to surrender to feudalism. So the prime minister should immediately resign,” said party Secretary CP Gajurel, who is from the Baidya faction.

Nepal: Disqualified combatants disrupt retirement process in Surkhet

[Frontlines editorial comment:   A noted Black writer/poet in the US, Langston Hughes, once penned these lines on the frustrations of the denied and delayed.  It is appropriate to the events in Nepal today.  “What happens to a dream deferred? Does it dry up like a raisin in the sun? Or fester like a sore-- And then run? Does it stink like rotten meat? Or crust and sugar over-- like a syrupy sweet? Maybe it just sags like a heavy load. Or does it explode?” ― Langston Hughes, The Collected Poems]

REPUBLICA KATHMANDU, Feb 5: A group of 70 former disqualified Maoist combatants on Sunday disrupted the ongoing voluntary retirement process in the Surkhet-based Maoist cantonment by vandalizing a makeshift office used by officials from the secretariat for the Special Committee. According to Dipak Prakash Bhatt, who is also a secretariat member, the disqualified combatants pushed their way into the cantonment at around 3:30 pm and tore apart the four tents of the makeshift office, vandalized three laptops, tables and chairs before they were taken under control by verified combatants in the cantonment.

Nepal Maoist leader opposes disarming PLA and return of peasant lands to landlords

Nepal Maoist hardliner opposes disarming guerrilla

Zee News,  Sunday, January 08, 2012

Kathmandu: Indicating a deepening rift in Nepal’s ruling Maoist party, hardline leader Mohan Vaidya “Kiran” on Sunday opposed the move to disarm the former gurrillas and plans to return property seized during the decade-long civil war in the country.

“The rift in the party was between the revolutionaries and opportunists,” he underlined, adding that he was not ready to compromise on principles and ideology of the party.

Underlining the need for ‘people’s revolution’ in Nepal, Vaidya said the Maoists’ revolution would be complete only by establishing “Janabad” or peoples rule.

He said the UCPN-Maoist aims “to empower people with political, economic and cultural rights and safeguard national sovereignty.”

Nepal: Disqualified PLA combatants impose Far-west bandh

Fourmonths ago, on August 8, 2011--Police arrest former People's Liberation Army Maoist combatants who were disqualified by the United Nations Mission in Nepal in 2007 as they chant slogans against the government in Katmandu, Nepal

December 30, 2011, Himalayan Times

BELAURI: The disqualified People’s Liberation Army(PLA) combatants have enforced Far-western region bandh on Thursday putting forth several demands.

The Maoist ex-combatants had warned of stir and agitations expressing dissatisfaction that the state has dragged them out of the cantonments labeling ‘disqualified’ in an indecent and discriminatory manner.

At a press conference, Bharat Rokaya, central secretary of Disqualified People’s Liberation Army was heard saying, “The party used us for ten years to fight in the people’s war and now it has left us in the lurch.”

They have launched general strike putting forward various demands such as the removal of tag of ‘disqualified’ labeled to describe them, their proper management, disclosure of fund that came from the United Nations (UN) in the name of combatants, among others.
http://www.thehimalayantimes.com/fullNews.php?headline=Disqualified+PLA+combatants+impose+Far-west+bandh&NewsID=314384&a=3

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Ex-PLA’s bandh hits Kailali

2011-12-29

DHANGADHI: Normal life of Kailali district has been hit hard on Thursday due to the Bandh called by ex-PLA combatants of the UCPN-Maoist, who are on agitation demanding implementation of past agreements made with the government.

All educational institutions, transport services and business sectors have been completely shut down from the bandh.

Ex- PLA Combatants said that they have been on agitation to implement the agreement made with the government saying they have been displaced from the society in the name of rehabilitation.

They further said that no progress have been done as per the four-point agreement such as removal of the tag of ‘disqualified’ labeled to describe them, their proper management and to provide lump some economic package.

About 272 combatants were disqualified while carrying out their verification at seven division offices of Maoist Army at Talbandi of Kailali district.

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Nepal: “Prachanda remains no longer Chairman of Nepal Maoist”: C. P. Gajurel

[Within the Maoist party in Nepal--theUCPN(M)--the challenges to the revisionist "peaceful road" of party chairman Dahal aka Prachanda have grown in intensity and sharpness, in political and ideological terms, and the organizational challenges to Prachanda's leadership in the party are now demanding his removal as chairman of the party.  The revolutionary Maoists are charting the path forward for the Nepali revolution, which requires the removal of Prachanda and other "establishment Maoists" -- as this news article detailing a speech by Party Secretary Gajurel lays out. --Frontlines ed.]

Telegraph Nepal, Sunday, December 11, 2011

On ideological grounds, Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ remains no longer the Chairman of Unified Maoists’ Party, so said Party secretary C.P. Gajurel while addressing a press meet in Nawalpur of Sarlahi District, December 10, 2011.

“Dahal has already abandoned the ideology charted by the peoples’ revolt…… How Dahal could continue claiming that he holds significant position in the party”, asked Gajurel and said, “He has no space in the party.” ……..

……… “Differences in the party have already crossed the toleration limit. Dahal is to be entirely blamed for the ideological aberrations”, Gajurel told the media adding, “It all started with the differences over petty issues. The differences have attained a new height following unilateral decision of the Chairman to return the seized properties, humiliating rehabilitation and integration of the PLA and the fresh controversial BIPPA agreement that Baburam signed with India.”

Gajurel also disclosed that majority of the party leaders were the adherents of his own panel.

“We are not at all against peace and constitution”, Gajurel claimed and concluded by saying, that “We want honorific and scientific integration of PLA in the Nepal Army.”

Every unnatural height has a definite fall.

Nepal: Revolutionary Maoist Badal: ‘those who dissolved the PLA will be demised soon’ — ‘new PLA will be born’

We have Raised the Flag of Revolt- Ram BahadurThapa “Badal”

2 November, 2011, from redstar site

Ram BahadurThapa “Badal”

Today is the historic day for all of us in course of fighting against imperialism and the expansionism. The moment we are holding a press-meet is a historic moment because we are going to express even our commitment but not only the opinion. The gathering here is the historic gathering that is centralized to fight against the expansionism, imperialism and their puppets. We are lined up here for resisting and fighting against puppets until our death. Certainly, the night of November 1 is the historic dark night. The dark night was marked as the cheerful night for the feudalists, imperialists and the expansionists and their puppets. However, on the other, the same night was marked as the night of suffering, worry and a curse for the family of the martyrs, wounded and the poor working class people. Therefore, we are present here with the volcano of the sufferings and a thundering voice within worry.

Certainly, the puppets of the imperialism and the expansionism broke the bottles of the whisky and put their fore heads on the feet of their masters and cheered with them that night. But, their happiness against the people and their dream of deception  will break into bubbles of water. Their feelings of peace will remain no longer. It is because we are gathering here to take raid over their mirage like happiness.

The night was the night when People’s Liberation Army (PLA) was shamelessly disarmed, cruelly disarmed and put into dust to surrender before the reaction. Therefore, it is the black night for the PLA soldiers, the working class and the freedom-loving people. This was misfortune! However, it has brought a hurricane with it. This misfortune has brought a bright future with it. The future of the working class will smash the momentary pleasure of imperialists and their puppets.

Nepal: PLA commanders denounce “integration of armies” deal as surrender

myrepublica.com

Republica:  “PM Defends Integration Model, PLA Labels It As Surrender”

KATHMANDU, Nov 8: Prime Minister and Chairman of Special Committee Baburam Bhattarai has refuted the allegation that the integration modality of the Maoist combatants as envisioned in the seven-point agreement was surrender and stressed that the proposed integration is necessary to complete the revolution.In a meeting with the top PLA commanders held at PM´s official residence at Baluwatar on Monday evening, Prime Minister Bhattarai tried his best to assure the former combatants that the integration model perfectly safeguarded core interests of the PLA and the Maoist party.

Nepal: Maoists determined to defeat betrayal of Prachanda and Bhattarai, complete revolution

People burning 7-point agreement after a rally was concluded that was started from National Conference Hall in the Exhibition Road to Shanti Batika, at Ratnapark in Kathmandu.

Streets are being occupied day by day demanding to cancel the anti-people agreements like 7-point agreement committed behind the black curtains.

‘No Surrender’: Kiran and Badal

REDSTAR, November 2, 2011, http://redstarnepal.com/?p=562

Kathmandu, November 2: The revolutionary faction of UCPN-Maoist has publicized an authentic voice for the protection of the revolution. After Prachanda and Baburam factions agreed to hand over the total achievements of the People’s War, com. Kiran and com. Badal have clearly put forwarded their voice in a press-meet held in Kathmandu today.

In the National conference Hall packed up with journalists, intellectuals and the cadres, Senior-most Vice-chairman Com. Kiran clarified all the questions that were asked from the ground. He said, “The People’s Liberation Army (PLA); which has played a significant role in the political change of the nation, has been disarmed, dishonored and dispersed through the 7-point agreement signed at the night of November 1.” Flashing over the contribution of PLA and the people, com. Kiran said, “Just before the meeting of the central committee, party chairman has signed the agreement at mid-night. He has made a serious mistake by doing so. We are going to advise him to withdraw it, correct it in the central committee meting that is going to be held tomorrow. Along with it, we have said other political parties to correct this mistake too.”

Comrade Kiran

Com. Kiran publicly accepted the bitter reality that party is going to be degraded day by day. He added that party should be ideology, dream and people as well as the nation. Nation and the people are dearer than any party.

In the press-meet, General Secretary of the party com. Badal exposed all the intrigues and he strongly opposed anti-people and anti-nation plots by saying that their misdeeds will be put into dust. He said, “Today is the historic day for all of us in course of fighting against imperialism and the expansionism. The moment we are holding a press-meet is a historic moment because we are going to express our commitment but not only the opinion. The gathering here is the historic gathering that is centralized to fight against the expansionism, imperialism and their puppets. We are lined here for resisting and fighting against puppets until our death.”

Nepal: Bhattarai, Dahal should quit party: Gajurel

RAJKUMAR KARKI

SINDHULI, OCT 25 -
In what could apparently be a sign of further crisis in the already troubled UCPN (Maoist), the party’s hard-line camp has intensified attacks on the establishment faction following the signing of the Bilateral Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement (BIPPA) with India.

Maoist Secretary CP Gajurel on Tuesday remarked that party Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal, and Vice-chairman and Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai do not have the right to stay in the party.  Accusing them of giving up the revolutionary path, he demanded that the party bid them adieu. Speaking at a programme organised at Deurali of Sindhuli district, Gajurel alleged that the Maoist leadership has deviated from the revolutionary path though the leaders talk about revolution to retain their positions in the party.

Gajurel remarked that those who talk about peace by giving up revolution could not be Maoists in a true sense.