People's Democracy

Yechury Holds Talks With Nepali Leaders

SITARAM YECHURY, a member of the CPI(M) Polit Bureau, was recently on a three day visit to Kathmandu at the invitation of the president and prime minister of Nepal. He arrived in Kathmandu on February 28, had had on the same evening a long meeting with the country�s prime minister Madhav Kumar Nepal, and discussed with him the developments in Nepal. During this meeting, Yechury conveyed to the prime minister the Indian people�s solidarity with the people of Nepal for successful culmination of the country�s transition to a democratic republic. He had extended meetings with Mahara of the CPN(Maoist), Jalanath Kannal and K P Sharma Oli of the CPN(UML), Ramachandra Paudel (leader of the Nepali Congress in parliament), Shekhar Koirala, and also with K P Sitola, former home minister and the chief interlocutor with the Maoists.

On March 1, Yechury met CPN(Maoist) chief and former prime minister of Nepal, Prachanda, along with Baburam Bhattarai and other leaders. The chief of United Nations Mission in Nepal and British ambassador also called upon Yechury during this three day visit. Yechury conveyed solidarity on behalf of the Indian people and expressed his hope that key players in the democratic process would come together to take the historic struggle of Nepali people to its logical culmination through the establishment of a democratic republic in the country.

As per the earlier understanding which was reached in the wake of the Constituent Assembly elections, the Constituent Assembly of Nepal is obliged to adopt a constitution by May 28, 2010. While the drafting of a new constitution is connected with a mutually acceptable solution to the question of integrating the Maoist "People's Liberation Army" into the civil society, this has not happened up till now due to various reasons. Recently a high-powered committee comprising the Maoists led by Prachanda, CPN(UML) representatives led by Khanna and Nepali Congress representatives led by Ramachandra Paudel was formed to overcome the impediments to the ongoing constitution drafting process and work out a solution. This committee was in session by the time Yechury left for Delhi on February 2 evening.