Dahal’s aid pledge turns hollow

The public announcement of UCPN (Maoist) Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal of providing Rs 6 million to the victims and relatives of the devastating Bandarmude bus blast has turned out to be a hollow promise. The Ministry of Peace and Reconstruction said it had made no such decision of providing aid to the blast victims.
While inaugurating Madi Festival on February 28, the Maoist chief had announced to provide Rs 6 million in aid for the victims and relatives of the blast carried out by his party in 2005 in which 38 civilians were killed and more than 70 others maimed and injured. On the occasion, Dahal admitted his mistake and publicly apologised for the explosion.
A passenger bus headed for India from Bagai of Ayodhyapuri had fallen into a booby trap set up by the Maoist insurgents at Bandarmude. Talking to the Post over the phone, Secretary Dharanidhar Khatiwada said the ministry has not taken any decision to provide cash to the victims. “Issuing aid from the ministry is not as easy as distributing money from the MP’s fund. Such amount cannot be issued merely through a ministerial directive,” said Khatiwada. He clarified that such aid could be provided if initiated with due process through the National Planning Commission.
Dahal, however, has claimed that he had secured prior approval for the aid from Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai and Minister of Peace and Reconstruction Top Bahadur Rayamajhi before visiting Bandarmude recently.
Muktinath Neupane, the president of the struggle committee representing the Bandarmude victims, said that the announcement was a ploy to deceive the victims.