Struggle not for power but for liberation: NCP chair Dahal

The Dahal-Nepal faction of Nepal Communist Party (NCP) staged a demonstration and mass meeting against the dissolution of House of Representatives in Kathmandu on Wednesday.

The faction has been carrying on with protest since December 20, arguing that the Prime Minister had no right to dissolve the HoR. The case on the HoR dissolution is currently sub judice in the Supreme Court.

Addressing the massive assembly that was held following the culmination of rallies from various parts of the capital on Wednesday, Chairman of the faction Pushpa Kamal Dahal said the PM had no rights at all to dissolve the HoR. He warned that if the HoR was not restored, the country would see storm of protest. "If the present peaceful struggle is unheard, it will turn into people's revolution," he announced before thousands of party cadres and well-wishers.

The constitutional bodies should pay heed to people's voices. "If the peaceful agitation turns ugly, it goes uncontrollable. There will be a peaceful green revolution," he reiterated.

The polarisation began after the disputes plagued the ruling NCP, he said, adding that those taking wrong way would, however, return to the mainstream party. Dahal also claimed that there was a long list of leaders returning to the faction he led.

Chairman Dahal made it clear that the struggle was not for power and individual gain but for liberation and people's welfare. "Those against this faction were saying 'why the old leaders were fighting for power', but, you, be sure, it is not so," he reminded.

On the occasion, another Chairman of the faction, Madhav Kumar Nepal, said the party they were leading was authentic and hoped that they would get the election symbol 'Sun.' "Election symbol 'Sun' belongs to our faction. If the Election Commission has any doubt, it can take decision based on the number of central members (441)," he asserted.

Chairman Nepal expressed his view, "Prime Minister threatened Election Commission saying he was party chairman. How come? Party statute does not speak he is the first chairman of the party, neither it is in circular and in any decision. Then how is he the first chairman of the party?"

Likewise, senior leader Jhalanath Khanal also warned of flaring people's movement if the current agitation was not heard. The NCP led by Dahal and Madhav Nepal is the authentic one, he said, urging the Election Commission to observe the movement they were waging.

Senior leader Khanal further said they had come to the street for prosperity. They were for agriculture revolution, socialist revolution. "We are fighting for democracy, constitution, republic and country's stability," he underscored.

Spokesperson of the faction Narayan Kaji Shrestha viewed, "We launched struggles to frustrate unconstitutional move of HoR dissolution and unconstitutional appointment at constitutional bodies."

Standing committee member Dev Prasad Gurung said people had to wage struggle after the person reaching the leadership from the communist party took unconstitutional move.

Another standing committee member Janardan Sharma said Constitution cannot be trampled. "Government must listen to people's voices. If people's voices are not heard, it would lead to people's revolution," he warned.

Moreover, standing committee member Raghu Ji Pant said all should unite to make a new and revolutionary party.

Central member Ram Kumari Jhakri reminded Nepalis are sovereign people, so none had any authority to deprive people of their rights.

Before the assembly, rallies emanated from five places of Kathmandu Valley- Pulchowk, Jamal, Kupandole and Lainchaur before reaching Bhrikutimandap road, where the mass meeting was held.