Maoists have a role in Nepal: Yechury

Kolkata: Maoists should not be excluded from the democratic process in Nepal, CPI(M) Politburo member Sitaram Yechuri said in Kolkata on Saturday.

“Maoists in Nepal have very strong political influence and their inclusion in the consolidation of the democratic process will have an impact on Maoists in India,'' said Yechuri, who has been asked by the seven-party alliance in Nepal to help end the crisis.

King Gyanendra, in his address to the Nepali people on Friday, offered to transfer people to the alliance but didn’t mention the Maoists.

"Excluding the Maoists will be a great disservice to the movement in Nepal." Integrating Maoists in the democratic process in Nepal would have a ''salutary effect'' in India.

The 1990 Nepalese Constitution kept away Maoists from the democratic process, but King Gyanendra should not be allowed to to do that. “We should not fall into that trap,” said Yechury, the convenor of the Indo-Nepal Solidarity Committee.

India should see that Gyanendra could in no way tries to legitimise his powers. Only the people of Nepal could decide the nature of the political system they wished to have in their country, he said.

Stating that the the King's announcement was partial, Yechuri said it stopped short of setting up a constituent assembly which was part of the 12-point demand of the seven party alliance and the Maoists in Nepal.