General Secretary of the CPN (Revolutionary Maoist) Mohan Baidya ‘Kiran’ has announced a ‘new revolution’ in the country following his party’s merg­er with the Netra Bikram Chand ‘Biplab’-led Communist Party of Nepal. Baidya made the announce­ment at a joint program organized in Bharatpur, Chitwan. “The two parties will work togeth­er to start a new revolution,” said Baidya. “But unlike the previous revolution, it won’t be violent.”

 

Baidya argued that another rev­olution is necessary because the Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachan­da’-led Maoist Center—which has now merged with KP Sharma Oli-led CPN-UML—has ignored those who were killed, disappeared or injured in the ‘People’s War’. Therefore, the responsibility of fulfilling their demands has fallen on the shoulders of his and Biplab’s parties.

 

Taking a jab at Dahal, Baidya said the country’s hero has turned into a villain. “How can we trust some­one who, when he lost the ability to go at it alone, has tagged along sometimes with the Congress and at other times with the UML? At a time when those who contributed to the ‘People’s War’ are behind bars, Dahal is indulging in power politics. This has compelled us to choose a revolutionary path,” said Baidya.

 

Baidya accused Dahal of working to protect the same system that he once waged war against. He claimed that the much-touted left unity between the UML and the MC won’t last, notwithstanding the country’s need for a stable government.

 

Baidya also challenged the govern­ment to arrest Chand, after it issued an arrest warrant against him.

 

Ranbir Bam, politburo member of the Chand-led CPN, said it had now become glaringly obvious that Dahal was working against Maoist princi­ples. “In the past, many asked us why we splintered from the mother party. Time has provided the answer to that question,” said Bam.

 

“It was the ‘People’s War’ that gave birth to Dahal. But he ended the war only to be part of the old establishment. How can someone who couldn’t manage the needs of the families of those who fought for the revolution manage the needs of the entire citizenry?” asked Bam. “That’s why Nepal’s revolution remains incomplete. So we’re wag­ing another revolution.”