KATHMANDU: Delegates at the 8th National General Convention of the CPN (Maoist Center) have commented that the political report presented by party Chair Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ is suitable for today’s age.

Prachanda took two and a half hours presenting the political report titled ‘Nepali way to Socialism in the 21st Century, Report Presented at the Historical Eighth National Convention’. The report is about 200 pages long. The delegates said the report clearly spoke about the current situation in the country and abroad and the current strategy.

Delegate from Dharan Rajendra Kumar Rai Kiranti said that the Maoists were working to change the society in the past but now they have become like other political parties. The political report seeks to address the issue of lack of ideologies and debate on ideologies and policy-making.

Chair Prachanda has made it clear that the party was still ready for unity with other communist parties. Mukesh Shah, a delegate from Bara, commented that the report was correct in general. He said that it was positive to strengthen the local level and focus on production. He said that the plan to form an industry by uniting the people by forming a group of 50 people in each municipality was a modern thought.

Stating that the political document has incorporated many crucial issues through recent perspectives, delegate Indraraj Bhattarai, however, said that the issue of labor force exodus to foreign countries and ways to retain them at home is not raised. Bhattarai was of the view that the report has talked about the self-reliant economy but questioned whether we can become self-reliant in the current concept of an open society.

Prachanda, in his political document, has admitted weaknesses on the part of the Maoist leaders and cadres on their lifestyle and cultural agenda along with poor networking development with the people. “We made mistakes and I am the first to commit mistakes. I am ready for self-criticism,” Bhattarai quoted the party chair as saying.

Likewise, a delegate said that the document has incorporated the issue of the province’s role on education and health care. The document has mentioned the weak working style of the Maoists as an issue. “We failed to move ahead the way we would have gone after joining the peace process,” a leader shared.

Sangita Bhattarai, a delegate from Chitwan district, said that Chair Prachanda has laid special emphasis on further strengthening public relations of the leaders. The document has pointed out that the communist movement in the country was in shambles due to lust for post and power.

Another delegate said, “Chairperson Prachanda has laid emphasis on the issues of globalization, liberalism and financial capitalism. He shared that the document has strongly mentioned production relations and class antagonism as well as moving ahead as per the changed time on the matter of class raised in the past. He has also laid special emphasis on how to make the national economy stronger.

Delegate Laxmi Prasad Limbu of Taplejung said that the document is appropriate for the current Nepali situation, adding, that it has been brought in order to address the way towards the journey of socialism.

Similarly, Sabitri Acharya of Kailali said that the 40 percent participation of women has been mentioned in the document. She opined that the party has incorporated youth, women and the document has tried to address it and has incorporated all regions.

Stating that the document has stressed on moving ahead integrating the ‘left movement’, GP Mainali of Sarlahi expressed the view that they were hopeful towards the document brought by Chair Dahal.

Likewise, Shiva Kumar Dangi, a delegate of Itahari, shared that Chair Dahal’s document has analyzed the international and national state of affairs and clearly mentioned the review of the activities carried out so far and the upcoming action plan.

Twenty-five groups have been formed to hold separate discussions on the document tabled by the Maoist Chairperson. The groups will put forward their views on the document on Tuesday.

Maoist leader Narayan Kaji Shrestha said that the document would be passed with amendments after receiving suggestions from general convention delegates.