Chairman Prachanda visits New York

Prime Minister Prachanda left for New York Saturday afternoon to take part in the 63rd session of the general assembly of United Nations.

This is Prachanda's third foreign visit since he took office as the first prime minister of republican Nepal on August 15. He has already visited the two immediate neighbours, China and India.

On his way to the US, PM Prachanda will hold a meeting with Nepali ambassadors to European countries, in Frankfurt of Germany.

In New York, the PM will participate in separate receptions to be hosted by US President George W. Bush and UN secretary general Ban Ki-moon. He will address the general assembly on Sept 26.

Additionally, he will attend programmes organised by The Asia Society and India China Institute and will take part debates on millennium development goals and hunger and poverty.

The PM is visiting the US even as the Bush administration has not yet removed his party, CPN (Maoist), from its 'terrorist exclusion list'. It is believed that his meeting with the US President will be a turning point in the relations between the US and Nepali Maoists, which have never been cordial.

Minister Matrika Yadav resigns over land seizure controversy

KATHMANDU, Sept 19 - Minister for Land Reforms and Management Matrika Yadav resigned from his post, on Friday, refraining from the Maoist central secretariat’s directives to publicly apologise for his involvement in the Siraha land seizure.

Minister Yadav tendered his resignation to Prime Minister Prachanda, who is also the chairman of the CPN-Maoist, immediately after the meeting today.

In his resignation, Yadav accused the CPN-UML an the MPRF—other main partners of the Maoist-led coalition government— of being anti- people and claimed that the UML appointed an Indian national as minister. He further stated that the government took to suppression of the Dalits and landless squatters and demolished the huts they built in the land of former royalty Mohan Shahi.

Amid this situation when it is not possible to work to achieve the aspirations of the People’s War and the People’s Movement, fulfill the martyr’s dream and accomplish the party’s commitment, my morality does not let me to remain in the post of the minister, the resignation addressed to the PM reads.

Earlier, the secretariat meeting held at the Prime Minister’s Residence in Baluwatar concluded that Minister Yadav’s obstreperous participation in the seizure of the private properties at Mirchaiya VDC in Siraha district was against the party policy. At the meeting, Yadav defended himself and claimed that he did not do any mistake.

Talking to the Kantipur FM after resigning, Yadav claimed that he was not directed to apologise.

“The party only suggested me to introspect. However, I decided to resign for the ease of the party to carry on the equation,” he said.

He further warned of an accident if the Dalits and landless squatters who have been occupying the land are evicted again.

When PM Prachanda was in India tour, Yadav had locked the horns with Acting Prime Minister and Home Minister Bamdev Gautam and the MPRF and recaptured the private plots of land and property immediately after the police administration demolished the huts built in the land and removed the forceful occupants.

The Maoists had distributed the land belonging to Birendra Sah, an MPRF supporter, to the Maoist cadres and landless squatters earlier.

Claiming that he was working for the people, Yadav yesterday had accused the home minister of being influenced by the ‘land-mafia’ and meddling with the prerogative of another ministry.

Democracy and Class Struggle would like the CPN Maoist to clarify its land to the tiller policy in view of resignation of Matrika Yadav.

Minister for Land Reform and Management Matrika Yadav has forwarded his resignation to Prime Minister

Minister for Land Reform and Management Matrika Yadav has forewarded his resignation to Prime Minister.

In his resignation submitted to PM Prachanda l, Yadav has accused Madhesi Janadhikar Forum and CPN (UML), partners in the current coalition government, of being anti-people parties.

He submitted the resignation to the PM at his official residence in Baluwatar.

Stating that he had acted in favour of the people, Yadav reiterated to remain a pro-people politician.

Earlier, the party had instructed Yadav to apologise publicly or resign as minister. Other members of the coalition and opposition Nepali Congress had condemned the acts of Yadav and demanded action against him.

Democracy and Class Struggle says Yadav should apologise and Prachanda should refuse his resignation has Yadav's motives are entirely honest.It is in the interests of the movement that he retain his position in the government.

Finance Minister Barburam Bhattarai unveiling Budget

Presenting the first budget of the Maoist-led government, Finance Minister Dr Baburam Bhattarai is widely expected to put forth an ambitious and inflated budget.

Finance Minister and senior Maoist leader Dr. Baburam Bhattarai. (File photo)
Even as government sources have said that the budget size could reach Rs 240 billion this time – up from Rs 170 billion in the previous fiscal year – the Finance Minister has promised to remain within 'acceptable limits.'

"Since it is going to be the first budget after establishment of republic, many people have many expectations. Therefore, the budget size will be big. But we will remain within acceptable limits taking the ground reality into consideration," Dr Bhattarai said on Thursday.

He has also promised not to increase tax rates. "We do not want to raise tax rates unnecessarily. Rather, we will focus on controlling revenue leakage and expanding tax base since we need the support of private sector to meet our targets," he said.

Economists have expressed concerns over the likelihood of inflated budget. "We can assume that the government wants to bring in an inflated budget. If that happens, then that could spiral the already worse inflation situation as well as push budget deficit beyond our capacity," said Dr. Bishwambher Pyakuryal.

Dr. Bhattarai, unveiling a white paper of the economy on the eve of budget presentation, said that the situation of economy is poor. "It is the reality that despite some economic growth, there is increasing inequality and poor shape of manufacturing sector and industries," he said.

In the white paper, the minister has presented the plan for accelerating the economic growth. As per the plan, the growth will be increased to over 7 percent for next two years and it will be increased to double digit for the five subsequent years after which, the minister aims to catapult the growth to 'leapfrogging' pace.

The FM will present budget at Constituent Assembly at 4 pm on Friday

Prachanda returns home

Prime Minister Prachanda returned home Thursday afternoon, wrapping up his five-day official visit to India.

He had flown to India on September 15 leading a 44-member delegation in what he claimed as his first "political visit".

On Wednesday, a 22-point joint press statement was issued by the two countries following a meeting between the Prime Ministers of Nepal and India with both sides noting their deep ties and pledging to expand them in future.

In the joint statement the Indian government has agreed to provide Rs 320 million as immediate relief to flood -affected people in Sunsari and Saptari district and also pledged to rebuild a segment of the East-West highway, damaged in the recent Saptakoshi deluge.

India also pledged to provide credit of to Rs 2.4 billion to Nepal for the next three months to ensure uninterrupted supply of petroleum products. Similarly, India also agreed to implement the Naumure hydro-electric project on the Rapti River.

The same day, PM Prachanda traveled to south Indian city of Bangalore to observe the rapid development of Information Technology.

Apart from meeting his counterpart Dr Man Mohan Singh, PM Prachanda also met Indian President Pratibha Patil, vice-President Hamid Ansari, ruling Congress (I) President Soniya Gandhi, former Indian prime ministers, opposition party leaders, high-level officials and dignitaries during his five-day stay

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Nepalese Prime Minister Prachanda' says that his nation would not follow traditional parliamentary democracy.

Nepalese Prime Minister Prachanda' says that his nation would not follow traditional parliamentary democracy. He is continuously experimenting to restructure the country's socio-economic fabric towards a new form of democracy aimed at peasants and workers. Prachanda was addressing a delegation of Indo-Nepal People's Solidarity Forum at the Nepalese embassy. Excerpts :

What will be the exact nature of your new democracy?

We know that formation of a communist republic is not possible in Nepal due to the current international scenario. Neither will we maintain a status quo in parliament. We are in constant search of a structure aimed towards workers and peasants. If we fail to do so, it will be unfortunate not only for Nepal, but also for India, South Asia and the whole world.

Will you review recruitment of Gorkhas into the Indian Army?

We are trying to review each and every treaty with India since 1950. Today, we will release a joint statement with the Government of India. Issues such as water resources, Gorkhas recruitment into the Indian Army, smuggling on the Indo-Nepal border will be considered. I assure you that status quo will not be maintained regarding these issues.

What do you have to say about Indian Maoists and terrorist attacks?

Indian Maoists are on their own way and we have no right to dictate to them. We have created a balance between political and military offensive to reach this stage of peace in Nepal. If they or any other Maoist party in any part of the world feels that our strategy was relevant, they are free to appreciate it. Each and every country's internal situation is completely different and their is no common blueprint for change. No need to say that we will have to fight terrorism.

Do you see formation of any South Asian level communist organisation, as they have done in South America?

We want a union to be formed at the South Asia level. We plan to call a conference of all Maoist parties of the world in the near future to create solidarity and lend a helping hand to the transitional phase of ideology, philosophy and science with which we are in continuous experimentation in Nepal. We are playing a very risky game, but we are confident.

What was the delay in government formation?

During the four months of negotiations with other political parties, we witnessed a new form of class struggle where every single party wanted to defend its class interest. They could not dream of the CPN (Maoist) coming to power. The pressure of the Nepalese masses which defied them.

What do you have to say about the apprehensions in that CPN (Maoist) is heading towards revisionism?

We are neither going towards parliamentary democracy, nor trying to revive any traditional form of democracy in Nepal. In the current international political scenario, we have to make a breakthrough on the basis of revolutionary and reactionary political tradition of the 20th century, right from the October revolution to Chinese revolution.

Concrete analysis of the present situation will chart out a way for new Nepal. When we concluded a 12-point agreement, three years ago, and continuously stressed on the formation of constituent assembly, our masses knew very well that this was a strategic compromise, not defeat. Time has proved that we were right in our approach. Basically, every ideology and science has to change with changing times. What we are doing is just an ideological and scientific experiment which is very risky.

PM Prachanda for 'people's republic' in Nepal

Prime Minister Prachanda has said his party's long term projection is to establish People's Republic in Nepal but repudiated converting the country into "traditional" communist state.

Addressing a function organised by the Nepal-Bharat Janamanch in Delhi Tuesday, PM Prachanda said the constituent assembly would discuss the issue of establishing People’s Republic for the next one and half years, adding his party's ideological conflict with bourgeois and feudalists would continue.

Fearing a dictatorship in Nepal, PM Prachanda suspected possible intervention in Nepal by imperialists and bigger power centres.

He also sough support from Indian communist groups for establishing a different kind of governance system in Nepal.

US Envoy meets UML General Secretary

A day after holding a 'close-door meeting' with former Prime Minister and president of Nepali Congress Girija Prasad Koirala, American ambassador Nancy J. Powell has met CPN (UML) general secretary Jhala Nath Khanal, discussing recent political developments in Nepal.

Although both Powell and Khanal didn't divulge what transpired between them during the meeting held at UML central office in Balkhu Tuesday, some reports said they chiefly discussed the statement of Prime Minister Prachanda while speaking in the parliament that there is need for an alternative to the traditional parliamentary system.

Powell is learnt to have raised the same issue during her meeting with Koirala yesterday.

While the UML has not said anything categorically on the Prime Minister's statement the NC has taken strong exception to it, describing it as part an attempt to undermine the parliamentary system.

PM Prachanda says India ready for review of 1950 treaty

Prime Minister Prachanda' has said that India is ready for review of Indo-Nepal 1950 Peace and Friendship Treaty.

A joint taskforce will soon be formed by the two countries to study about the review of the treaty so that it becomes consistent with present times and is in interest of both countries.

This was revealed by PM Prachanda in his interaction with media, Tuesday morning, in New Delhi.

He said that such understanding was reached during his talks with Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Monday.

PM Prachanda added that the two governments have also discussed at extending east-west railway in terai districts of Nepal.

He claimed his meeting with Indian Prime Minister has pushed the relation between the two countries to a new height ending suspicions.

Prachanda further told journalists that he urged Singh for additional investment in hydropower and in other areas in Nepal.

On Tuesday, PM Prachanda met with Indian leaders such as communist leaders Prakash Karat and Sitaram Yechury, and minister Lalu Yadav. He will also meet with former prime ministers Indar Kumar Gujral and HD Deve Gowda on Tuesday.

He will travel to south Indian city of Bangalore on Wednesday to observe the rapid development of IT industry there. He will return to Kathmandu on Thursday