UCPN (Maoist) Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal has said the ongoing border blockade by India will end only after the political mechanism takes ahead the task of revision of federal boundaries. The High Level Political Mechanism is a cross-party mechanism headed by Dahal.

“Many people were hoping that the border obstruction would ease with the amendment of the constitution. But I had no such expectations," said Dahal while speaking with media persons at party headquarters in Paris Dada, Kathmandu on Monday.

After various rounds of negotiations with the agitating Madhesi Morcha and diplomatic initiatives taken with India, many other border points have returned to normalcy. However, the Birgunj-Raxaul entry point that accounts for around 80 percent of imports from the southern neighbour is yet to return to normalcy. Unless this border point resumes, the blockade cannot be said to be practically open. 

Leader Dahal went on to say that Prime Minister KP Oli will visit India only after the removal of border blockade. Earlier, PM Oli had himself mentioned that he will not visit India till the cargo movement at Birgunj customs point is eased.

The Dahal-headed political mechanism had on Sunday advised PM Oli to improve the strained relations with India during PM Oli’s India visit.

Defends government

During the interaction, Dahal defended current government led by Oli. He said that despite unfavourable circumstances, the government has been expediting its works. Dahal’s UCPN (M) is a coalition partner in the current government.

Acknowledging that government has not been able to ease fuel crisis triggered by India-imposed blockade and Madhes agitation, Chairman Dahal also pointed out the achievements of the government like endorsing the bill on reconstruction authority, formation of National Reconstruction Authority and initiate the work of rebuilding.

In a different context, Dahal said that although he has been pitching for a national consensus government, it should not be seen as his ploy to become prime minister. According to Dahal, national unity government is needed for rebuilding the country in the aftermath of earthquake, among other political affairs.

Lashes out at Bhattarai

Talking about former Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai, who has been campaigning to form his own party ‘Naya Shakti’ after severing ties with the UCPN (M), leader Dahal termed Bhattarai’s step as ‘treason’.

“During the people’s war, when I was the party Chairman and Supreme Commander of ‘People’s Liberation Army’, he [Bhattarai] was the chief of people’s government (Janaparishad). Thousands of people lost their lives under our command,” said Dahal. “Now Bhattarai is escaping away from his responsibility towards missing, dead and families of martyrs.”