Maoists deny hand in Madhesi violence
Kathmandu (AsiaNews) – It is Hindu extremists who are masterminding violence overwhelming the ethnic Madhesi minority in Terai region, southern Nepal. This was declared by Prachanda, the famous leader of the armed revolution of Nepalese Maoists. Now converted to peace and diplomacy, he expressed his support for the cause of the tormented ethnic group.
“The prime goal of the Hindus is to help King Gyanendra, symbol of archaic Hinduism, to save his crown in the upcoming elections,” said Prachanda. "Some Hindu extremists from India, who do not want to see the monarchy abolished in Nepal, are inciting the violence causing chaos and terror.”
ight now, King Gyanendra no longer has authority over Nepalese citizens; the revolution that ended in April 2006 put an end to the royal rule “by divine right”. The country is currently being governed by an ad interim parliament that will hold office until the next Constituent Assembly.
Pushpa Kamal Dahal, known as Prachanda, expressed admiration for the Indian government that is backing Nepal as it pursues the path to peace but accused some political parties of New Delhi – without mentioning names – of being linked to Hindu extremist groups. Prachanda did not spare the US Envoy in Nepal, James Moriarty, in his accusations.
According to Prachanda, the key demands for a future Nepal for a federal governance system, proportional electoral representation and a democratic republic were in total tune with the demands and aspirations of the Madhesi ethnic group.
Norbert Rai, a Christian social analyst, endorsed the comments of the Maoist revolutionary, adding that it was very likely that the Indian Hindu extremists were fueling the violence towards the Madhesi. "But Prachanda should not forget that the path of violence was paved by his guerrillasduring the past 10 years. Now they are vowing to relinquish violence because they have been assured of a good piece of the power cake of the country. But the seed of violence they have sown is now sprouting among other marginalized ethnic groups and tribes and they are resorting to armed violence. So the Maoist leader must realize that recourse to violence to gain power can never usher peace in the country. Only the ideology of love and non-violence which Lord Buddha, Lord Jesus Christ and Mahatma Gandhi preached and lived can guarantee peace and prosperity in the country.”
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