Maoists split in Nepal,Baidhya-led faction forms new party

Last ditch efforts by Maoist chief Prachanda,who offered to quit the party leadership to prevent a spilt,were dismissed as not being worthy of trust at the factions meeting that took place in Bouddha,on the outskirts of the capital. Prachanda and Baburam Bhattarai together have compromised on the objectives of the Revolution,and betrayed the Peoples Liberation Army by disarming and handing them over to the Nepal Army, Baidhya,the vice-chairman of the party,told delegates at the meet,adding,Our own leaders and comrades have acted as Red-traitors.

A 21-page document prepared by Baidhya,charting out the new partys future course,is likely to be approved by the convention that will be concluded on Monday. Baidhya,who began speaking out against Prachanda last year,accused him of swindling billions of rupees meant for combatants in different cantonments.

He also said that Prachanda and Bhattarai did not agree to a key demand to scarp unequal treaties that Nepal had earlier signed with India,including the 1950-treatment of peace and friendship,despite this being in the Maoist election manifesto.