(Excerpts from an interview with Harinath Bastola, Nepali Congress member who recently resigned from the party's 'active membership verification committee'.)

Q. Does this mean, to get leadership in their hands, irregularities and malpractice have taken place?

A. We have been forced to state that irregularities and malpractice have taken place. If, without going into the details, voters' lists are published, then irregularities have taken place. Irregularities have mainly taken in the lists from Kathmandu and Solu. The committee sending the voters lists must have a meeting. Without calling for a meeting and without letting members know, voters lists were sent on the sly. This proves that irregularities have taken place.

Q. Party workers allege that old and honest workers have been sidelined and new and crooked people have been made members. Do you agree with that?

A. New and crooked people are now active in the party. Smugglers, the Mafia and corrupt people are now prominent in the party. Not only that, people who have got Koirala's support and who wear the cloak of democracy are now prominent in the party. This is the reason why the Congress is turning into a dictatorial party. The controversy started because honest and old party members are being sidelined and new members are being inducted into the party. This is against the central leadership directive which had stated that new members should not be inducted. This shows that these new members are all powerful. If the directives of the centre are not followed, then where are the old members going to look for justice?

Q. How has this controversy affected the unity of the party?

A. This has brought about grave problems for party unity. It has shaken the party unity, and to solve this we have dragged Kishunji into this. This is the outcome. Because of our own problems, the country is in a bad state. We have raised our voice stating that this should not happen again. We are not going to forget about it, till we are successful.

Q What will you do if something like a Godavari Agreement takes place between the leaders?

A. The situation is now different. None of the past agreements were followed upon. Kishunji himself has said that he will never again believe Korrala .If he himself does not believe Koirala, then the question of an agreement does not arise.