On constitutional amendment: I don't agree that you cannot amend the constitution during an emergency. We are trying to do just that to resolve the political stalemate. You should not view with suspicion the demands of the opposition parties to evaluate the 11 years we're tried out the constitution.
On change of leadership:
I don't see a possibility of an immediate change. Whoever will come, will come from the Nepali Congress. Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba has to perform better; he has to be more proactive. For nine months [starting end-December 2000] he headed the commission that was responsible for finding a way to resolve the Maoist problem, and he then went on to become prime minister. But the Maoists were given too much freedom during the ceasefire (July-November 2001), that is why the country is in this position today. Deuba even used to say, "Prachanda is a very intelligent person." and on one day he freed 66 rebels from jail. The result: the attacks on Dang, Solu and Syangja. The Maoists have repeatedly tricked him.
On having a referendum:
I don't see the need for a referendum [to bring the Maoists into the mainstream]. The people are simple and don't understand what constitutional amendments mean. They neither know what a Constituent Assembly is, nor what type of constitution is best suited for us. The people will listen and do what the political parties say. That is why the matter of amending the constitution should be left to the politicians and intellectuals.
Violent means to political ends:
We carried the guns that the Maoists are now carrying in the 1950s. But we didn't kill ordinary people. When we faced the forces of the Ranas, some died on both sides. .The Maoists are taking away food from the poor; they are looting villagers' personal property and killing political opponents. Can this be called a political revolution? It is oppression, terrorism. Our revolution was to establish democracy but the Maoist revolution wants to dismantle the basic foundations of democracy. You cannot compare guns taken up by Congress with what the Maoists are doing.
On corrupt ministers:
The news of corruption that appears in the newspapers daily is shameful. There are charges against some [ministers] in the party's disciplinary committee. We are investigating the allegations. If they are found guilty the party will take strong action against them. If people want to earn money they should leave the party and begin a business or set up an industry. A political party is not the place for that. disciplinary action will be taken against those who cross the line.
