CPN (Maoist Centre) chairperson Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ pledged to set up a revolving fund in the memory of first martyr of people’s war, Dil Bahadur Ramtel.

At a programme organized by Dalit Mukti Morcha at CPN (Maoist Centre)’s central office at Parisdanda in Kathmandu today, Dahal shared that his party would provide seed money initially to set up the fund in the memory of Ramtel who attained martyrdom on this day in 1996 in Gorkha district in the people’s war led by Maoists.
Dahal, also former Prime Minister, expressed his concern over the tendency to reverse the values and beliefs established by the people’s war.
“Although the current coalition was formed to defend the constitution, democracy and republic, situation and circumstances have emerged as such that the coalition could break down due to the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC). Any possibility of breakdown of coalition needs to be quelled.”

Sharing CPN (Maoist Centre)’s stance that the MCC could not be accepted by his party until certain amendments were considered in this compact. According to him, this party wished that MCC would be taken forward and the current coalition would not break down.
He also acknowledged the Dalits’ ‘significant’ contribution to people’s war saying they were working towards ensuring special rights by the State to the Dalits since, Dahal argued, that social inclusiveness and proportional provision did not suffice to secure their welfare.

Furthermore, Dahal said that the Dalit community would be emancipated through Cultural Revolution and reaffirmed his commitment for the same. Although constitution guarantees rights for Dalit communities, due to lax implementation the communities were yet to exercise their rights, he noted. “We need to pile pressure from all quarters to ensure Dalits get to exercise their rights,” he said.