People's Democracy

Yechury Led Delegation Finds

A New Situation In Nepal

AT the invitation of the Nepali Congress (Democratic), CPI(M) Polit Bureau member Sitaram Yechury attended their 11th National Conference at Kathmandu from January 4 to 6, 2006.

Apart from attending and addressing the convention, he also led a delegation of the Indian Solidarity Committee for the Restoration of Democracy in Nepal. On behalf of its committee, its secretary, D P Tripathi, NCP leader Ramesh Dixit, CPI leader Pallab Sengupta and BJP leader Vijay Jolly were in the delegation. During the visit, discussions with all major political forces in Nepal (Seven Party alliance) took place. The delegation met Nepali Congress president, G P Koirala, CPN(UML) general secretary, Madhav Kumar Nepal, former prime minister Krishna Prasad Bhattarai and other leading members of the Seven Party coalition spearheading the movement for restoration of democracy in Nepal.

In comparison with the visit of this committee, a couple of months ago, to Nepal, the atmosphere there today is more positive and a greater public support for the restoration of democracy is palpable. The joint agreement on twelve points between the Seven Party alliance and the Maoists has created a new situation. The coming together of both these forces is being seen by the people of Nepal as the positive development towards the restoration of democracy. The joint declaration had demanded the establishment of a constituent assembly through elections. The demand for a republican democracy as opposed to a monarchy-led democracy is gaining ground. The focus of public response is increasingly centering around the demand for the establishment of such a constituent assembly.

In the meanwhile, the public meetings and protest actions organised by the political parties have been receiving a good response. While the delegation was there in Kathmandu, on January 6, the CPN(UML) held a huge protest meeting in Birganj. Similar actions are planned in all major cities of Nepal to culminate in a massive joint rally to take place in Kathmandu on January 20, 2006.