In a democracy, we need basic understanding and agreement. Unfortunately, we have entangled ourselves in trifles, not in principles. Witness the Ganeshman faction, the Bhattarai faction and Girija faction within the Nepali Congress. They never allowed us to proceed with confidence and trust.

We admit our past mistakes and will not repeat it. It is human to err. The kind of repentance you see in our comrades from Mechi in the east to Mahakali in the west makes me believe that we will not repeat the same mistakes. Right now we are sandwiched between two armed groups. On one side there are the forces of regression and on the other the Maoist violence. We are walking on a knife's edge. We can't help protesting regression because we have always fought for democracy. We are also bearing the brunt of the violence of radical communists.

To correct regression, we have demanded reinstatement of parliament. Once that is done, it will form a government. That is how the constitution can come back on track. The five parties that are continuing their movement against the royal takeover have an agreement. If someone can show an alternative way through which the constitution can be activated, we will be receptive to the idea.

But without a convincing alternative we have to continue demanding restoration of parliament. The government says general elections would be the best way to bring the constitution back on track. But can elections be held now? As long as Maoist violence remains, there will be no peace. In the absence of peace, there can be no polls. But since we are a democratic party we will not run away from the ballot box.