UPDATE CONVENTION: MAOIST CHIEF ASKS OPPOSITION TO ABANDON STREET POLITICS Kathmandu, 2 Feb.: UCPN-Maoist Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal said the Maoists will never leave the people’s issues and that even if the politicians fail the Nepali people will not, The Himalayan Times reports. Addressing the inaugural session of his party’s seventh national convention in Hetaunda on Saturday evening, the Maoist chairman expressed his hope that it will succeed in finding out a solution to resolve the country’s existing crisis. He further urged the main opposition parties Nepali Congress and CPN-UML to give up their agitation and come for an agreement to hold Constituent Assembly elections. He said the Maoist conclave, which is being held after 21 years, will come up with an acceptable formula to resolve the existing crisis, cautioning the parties that the people will decide their fate if they did not recognise the formula offered by the Maoists. Taking potshots at the two parties, he suspected if they are heading towards downfall by disregarding the Maoist call to join the Baburam Bhattarai-led government in order to hold CA elections with the offer to the NC to spearhead the Ministry of Home Affairs and high-level political mechanism. In his half-an-hour-long speech before concluding the inaugural function, the Maoist leader categorically responded to NC Vice Chairman Ram Chandra Paudel and CPN-UML Vice Chairman Bam Dev Gautam, and asked the opposition parties to come up with an acceptable candidate to lead the election government. Claiming that the Maoist conclave held 21 years ago led to remove the age old monarchy, Dahal went on claim that this one will help Nepal head to productivity and prosperity. According to him, the nation can be powerful only if the people are rich. “We all know we need economic prosperity even to enjoy and protect the national independence.” He further said his party has not taken up Marxism in orthodox way, and mentioned that he made efforts to bring the Maoists to peaceful and democratic path in earlier extended meetings and functions. PM compares opposition parties with scared rats Speaking prior to Dahal, Maoist Vice Chairman and Prime Minister Dr. Baburam Bhattarai urged the opposition parties to give up their fear and come to forge an agreement. He alluded them to the rats that try to escape a sinking vessel, and said, “Some small rats are about to flee the vessel that is shaking slowly, fearing that they will sink.” As the participants cheered him, the Prime Minister said, “I appeal to all the opposition parties, who are running away as scared rats, not to run away and come for consensus.” He said that his the Maoist gala will take up the capitalistic socialism as the party line without abandoning people’s agendas According to him, the party that has reached to the present status owing to the sacrifice of thousands of people cannot give up people’s issues without the liberation of marginalised and downtrodden. Earlier, representatives of various political parties, foreign diplomatic missions and foreign parties extended their wishes to the Maoist conclave. The closed session will start tomorrow ]Sunday]. Nnnn