Prime Minister and CPN (Maoist Centre) Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal on Sunday celebrated his 62nd birthday at Baluwatar in the company of those who were injured during the armed conflict, which he led for a decade between 1996 and 2006.

Some 16,000 lives were lost, thousands others were injured and many were internally displaced during the decade-long armed struggle that Dahal and his party termed “people’s war” to achieve equality and a just society. 

Dahal and his party have met with immense criticism for “forgetting” those who participated in the armed struggle.

Following a peace deal in 2006, the Maoists laid down their arms and joined peaceful politics. The elections held in 2008 catapulted Dahal’s party into

power with him becoming the first prime minister of republic Nepal.

But, Dahal continues to face criticism for failing to translate his words into action.

Amid this, Dahal, who became the prime minister in August for a second time, on Sunday tried to reach out to those who suffered during the conflict by inviting them to his birthday programme.

While extending birthday wishes to Dahal, Kalikot’s Sarjan BK, whose body

below waist is paralysed, and his wife urged the prime minister to make maximum efforts to provide relief to those injured during the armed conflict.

At least 18 of the injured are paralysed below their waist and as many as 30 cannot move, according to PM Dahal’s Press Adviser Govinda Acharya.

A large number of youths are still missing. Many former Maoist fighters are living in miserable conditions and blame Dahal, Baburam Bhattarai and Mohan Baidya for their misery.