Former UML Vice President Bhim Rawal joined the Nepali Communist Party on Thursday. He had contested against KP Sharma Oli for the presidency at the 10th general convention of UML held in November 2078 and was defeated.

After that, he was expelled from UML in Poush last year for going against party policy. After joining the NCP, Ganga BC spoke to Bhim Rawal for Kantipur about the future path, responsibilities and roles: What is the main objective of the unity between the Nepali Communist Party and the Motherland Campaign led by you? I worked in the Communist Party for five decades. Its objective was to strengthen national independence, freedom and self-respect, to prosper the people, to properly utilize the manpower and natural resources of the country in the paramount interest of the nation, and to free the country from unequal treaties. While working with that objective, my words were not acceptable to party chairman KP Oliji, and he expelled me from the party. My commitment and faith towards the country and the people did not die even after he expelled me. That is why I continued to work among the people, among the workers, among the media workers and intellectuals like you here through Matrubhumi Jagaran Nepal. The incident that took place on Bhadra 23 and 24. On Bhadra 24, the way the centers of governance, including the legislature, judiciary, executive, etc. were destroyed, and the way the security personnel were disrespected. Seeing all this and hearing the discussions about who played what role in it, I realized that a stronger force was needed to protect the sovereign power of this country. I felt that if such a force did not exist, the country would be in great trouble. That is why I understood that the Nepali Communist Party had two big communist parties and several other groups affiliated with it, as well as a broad organization at the grassroots level below it, and that it had a good influence on Nepalis living abroad. On the other hand, all the friends associated with me were in exile. The kind of goodwill that the public had towards me, if all of it is put together, it will become a powerful organization that can work to protect the paramount interests of the country. In other words, we have taken the initiative to unify with Jagran Abhiyan Nepal and the Nepali Communist Party to say that we can do it. At the unity announcement program, you said as if you were applying balm to the pain caused by the division of the then Nepal Communist Party in 2077. At that time, the party was divided due to a clash of two leaders rather than ideas, right? The country was going through a very difficult and difficult situation. At that time, we formed the government with almost two-thirds of the votes of the NCP. Oliji dissolved the House of Representatives twice and dissolved it. Later, the CPN-UML separated. There, we made a 10-point agreement and I myself was also active in making that agreement.

Both Oliji and Madhav Nepal agreed to it. That division happened because of the leadership, especially because of Oliji. The one objective that I wanted from it, the welfare of my motherland. I was very sad that it could not happen. Now the Nepali Communist Party and Jagaran Abhiyan Nepal have unified. I feel happy because some other groups have unified and become a strong force again.

Is it safe to say that the gathering of senior leaders of UML and former Maoists will not lead to a situation of dispute and division again?

It is natural for people to have such suspicions due to past experiences and events. But the events that have happened for some time now have also shaken the leadership a lot. All of them have now resolved to move forward by correcting the shortcomings of the past. I have also repeated that in that announcement meeting yesterday.

My role is to work actively to remove any such differences among the leadership. Therefore, I believe that while working, there may be differences in small matters. Sometimes there may be differences of opinion, but I believe that I can play an active role in resolving those differences and different opinions within the organizational system of the party and moving that organization forward strongly.

What will be the difference in Nepal's leftist politics after the formation of 12 components including you?

The way he behaved in the CPN-UML party led by KP Oliji and the results that the coalition government gave to the country. During his leadership, important areas, heritage and structures of the country were destroyed. Having seen all that, the Nepali people have now come forward with the determination that we will organize these various components through the Nepali Communist Party and eliminate the mistakes and weaknesses of the past.

The leftist public opinion that exists nationwide will definitely be positively affected by it. I believe that we will receive great support and that will be a strong basis for achieving significant success in the upcoming elections.

UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli has called the Nepali Communist Party an old age home. Doesn't it look the same when you look at the top structure of the party?

If someone else had said something like that, it would have been worth paying attention to. Oli himself is a person who slept in his residence for 9 months when he was the Prime Minister. Now, if he has to speak in a meeting, it is difficult for him to get up and speak. There is no point and meaning in Oli calling others an old people's club. No, if you want to compete, I am ready. If you want to compete by walking or climbing, then come to the competition. Who is old? You will see there. Now which young person is he himself? He tells the people sitting in the secretariat, 'Don't argue here, leave', those who are a little younger than him. When the 12 constituents came together. Now the possibility of this has been seen. This is just his panicked expression. His speech makes no sense.

What is the roadmap to take the Nepali Communist Party forward in the wake of the Gen-G Movement?

We are going to discuss and decide on that roadmap within the party. We have also said that we will hold a general convention within 6 months. We must draw a clear direction for stability by eliminating the weaknesses and corruption of the past. We will actively move forward to end the petty divisions and bargaining for positions in our political parties, especially the Communist Party.

Another thing is that our national security system has been seen to be unable to last even for two days. What are its weaknesses? We must seriously discuss and analyze it in order to run the state. The diplomatic sector seemed so weak that the government that came in only used ambassadors, distributed the work, and even the current interim government, which was elected, did the wrong thing by selectively recalling ambassadors at such a sensitive time and ridiculously keeping them in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. So how to strengthen diplomacy?

Our economy has reached 46 percent of our GDP in public debt today. The country is on the gray list. Keeping all these things in mind, how can we move forward on the path of building a national economy and how can we mobilize our human resources and natural resources in the national interest? How can we improve the level of education and health? I think we should think seriously about everything and move forward with clear guidelines, programs and policies.

Party unity has been achieved, but will the fight over the leadership start again?

This is a common disease among all political parties in Nepal. Now we must be free from this disease and we must strengthen the practice and process of accepting such roles in the past by looking at the role of the person and his work, diligence, activism, and ability rather than a technical issue of priority.

Many are interested in what will be the priority of Bhim Rawal in the NCP ?

Solving the country's fundamental problems is the main thing . But how do leaders work ? The question of what will be the status of their roles within the party may arise . I worked in the Coordination Committee. I also got the opportunity to go to important responsibilities of the state and the party . Other leaders have worked in even bigger responsibilities than me, even becoming the Prime Minister of the country. Keeping this overall issue in mind, after it has been decided with understanding in the party that 'your role is here', I will move forward accordingly.

Is it a principled agreement to give responsibilities based on priorities when UML and NCP were in power ?  

In practice and in theory, it is common practice that whatever role a person played in the past. Whatever position he or she had achieved, those things should generally be recognized. Let us wait for a few days. That will happen in the organizational system.