KATHMANDU: The head of the Maoist Center's secretariat, Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda, has denied remarks made recently at their meeting by Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) leader Rabindra Mishra. Prachanda's personal secretary, Ramesh Malla, emphasized that Mishra's statements are made up and inaccurate.
Mishra shared seven key themes from their Tuesday conversation with Prachanda in a Facebook post that he made thereafter. He implied that there had been a discussion between him and Prachanda on monarchy.
By saying, "I have not yet reached the position of agreeing with your opinion," Malla made it clear that Prachanda did not share Mishra's viewpoints, but he did accept that there might be something to think about. He emphasized the necessity of consistency in the face of the nation's chaos.
Malla also emphasized that Mishra misunderstood Prachanda’s views on the monarchy and the previous Prime Minister's commitment to the federal democratic republic in Nepal. In addition to authoring the Constitution, Prachanda was instrumental in bringing about peace.
Malla claims that Prachanda is still committed to guiding the nation toward socialism with an emphasis on wealth, social fairness, and sound government. Malla questioned whether some Nepalis were still ignorant of the nation's past struggles under the monarchical and Panchayat regimes.
Mishra shared a photo of their exchange on social media. The meeting took place in Prachanda's Khumaltar residence. Mishra claims that Nepal has reached a tipping point when preserving the monarchy is necessary to prevent disaster.
According to Mishra, the country is on the verge of blowing up, putting Prachanda's legacy and any future progress at jeopardy. Mishra reiterated his support for the reinstatement of the monarchy during this conversation.
During their conversation, Mishra made it clear that Prachanda saw how unsustainable the current state of affairs in Nepal was. He described King Mahendra as a "visionary" leader and asserted that Prachanda had a good outlook on the Panchayat era.
Malla, on the other hand, strongly rejected Mishra's assertions and insisted that Prachanda still supports Nepal's federal democratic system. He emphasized Prachanda's continued commitment to advancing the nation through republicanism.
Malla reiterated Prachanda's objective of maintaining Nepal's progress toward constitutionality and promoting long-term prosperity via efficient governance. The purpose of the statement from the Secretariat was to dispel any confusion on Prachanda's views following their meeting with Mishra.
This statement from Prachanda's side reflects the difference of opinion between those who favor the establishment of a federal republic in Nepal and others who favor the restoration of the monarchy. The republic versus monarchy argument still dominates the nation's political discourse.
