Prachanda Dismisses 'New Power' Talk as 'Commotion,' Claims His Party is the Nation's Newest Force

Kathmandu. Former Prime Minister and Coordinator of the Nepal Communist Party, Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda', has labeled the ongoing discussions about a 'New Power' as mere 'commotion'.

He asserted that his party is the newest and most progressive force in the country, established to bring about a Federal Democratic Republic and ensure the rights and entitlements of oppressed classes. Addressing a program in Kathmandu, Coordinator Dahal claimed that his party is the only one that grants identity and rights to women, Dalits, indigenous nationalities, Madhesis, Muslims, and Tharus.

Targeting the Rastriya Swatantra Party, Dahal commented that the country is currently in crisis precisely because of those who call themselves 'new'. Dahal argued that newness and oldness should be distinguished based solely on ideology and agenda, clarifying that the real new force is the one dedicated to the welfare of the nation and the people.

He stated, 'There are talks of new and old. Nowadays, a lot of commotion is being created through social media towards those claiming to be new. No one in Nepal is newer than us. Only the Nepal Communist Party is new. The Nepal Communist Party is the newest because it is the carrier of the Republic. It is the carrier of federalism. The Nepal Communist Party is the only party that grants identity and rights to women, Dalits, indigenous nationalities, Madhesis, Muslims, and Tharus. Are those making noise on social media calling themselves new these days new? They are the oldest. How can those who operate at the behest of those brokers and capitalists be new? You must tell the people, go door-to-door, go neighborhood-to-neighborhood, that the new one is the Nepal Communist Party. The one that fought for the rights and identity of the people. The one that established the Federal Democratic Republic—that is considered old? And those who sing praises of brokers and middlemen are new? You must tell the people properly. What is new is what has a new ideology and agenda. What is new is what dedicates itself for the welfare of the nation and the people.'

Coordinator Dahal stated that those who criticize the very agents of change while being part of the process of change cannot be considered new. He also mentioned that the country is currently in crisis, reiterating his critique that the country is in crisis due to those who claim to be 'new', targeting the Rastriya Swatantra Party.