KATHMANDU: In yet another historic event in Nepal’s politics, Prime Minister KP Oli and leader of the once “outlawed” group Netra Bikram Chand “Biplav” shared the same stage to witness the signing of a three-point peace deal that brought the rebel group to peaceful politics.
Home Minister Ram Bahadur Thapa “Badal” and Khadga Bahadur Bishwokarma “Prakanda”, who is also the spokesperson of the Nepal Communist Party led by Biplav signed an agreement at a jampacked hall of Rastriya Sabha Griha (City Hall) in Kathmandu Friday afternoon.
According to the agreement, the Biplav-led Nepal Communist Party has agreed to pursue peaceful politics by renouncing violent activities.
Likewise, the government has agreed to lift the ban imposed against the group, and release all prisoners and scrap cases filed against its leaders.
Similarly, the group has agreed to resolve its political demands through negotiations.
Prior to this, PM Oli and Biplav had held a one-on-one talks at the Prime Minister’s official residence in Baluwatar.
Biplav, who went underground two years ago, had entered the Kathmandu Valley on Friday morning.
It should be noted that PM Oli had signed an 11-point agreement with CK Raut, a secessionist, on March 8, 2019, at the same stage of Rastriya Sabhagriha in Kathmandu.
With the signing of the agreement, Raut had announced that he would give up his secessionist movement to join mainstream politics.
The signing of Friday’s three-point agreement materialized after several rounds of direct and indirect talks for the last one year, Dr Rajan Bhattarai, a member of the government’s talk team said.
“The government was engaged in direct and indirect talks with the Nepal Communist Party led by Biplav for the last one year,” Dr Bhattarai added.
Biplav was, meanwhile, was earlier spotted in Nawalparasi where he paid a visit to the members of a martyr.
According to sources, he had arrived at Bir Bahadur Saru Magar’s house based at Amarapuri in Nawalpur from Rolpa West on Thursday night.
After visiting the martyr’s family members, he headed towards the capital in a self-arranged vehicle as he refused to board the helicopter offered by the government.
A three-point agreement was signed following two rounds of talks held on Wednesday and another round of talks on Thursday morning in the capital.
Home Minister Ram Bahadur Thapa from the government side and Spokesperson Khadga Bahadur Bishwokarma alias “Prakanda” representing the Biplav group signed the agreement.
The government had put a ban on the Biplav outfit on March 12, 2019.
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