Baburam Bhattarai, vice-chairman of the Unified Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) and Maoist chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda’s deputy, is in India for talks with a cross-section of the Indian leadership. The Maoist leader and former finance minister of Nepal admits that relations between his party and New Delhi have taken a hit but he is making efforts to remove the misconceptions and misunderstandings that may have crept up of late.

Excerpts from an interview:

Q: Do you think your visit to India will help improve the relations between the Maoist party and the Indian government, which have not been good lately?
A: No, it is not correct to say that relations between our party and the government of India is not good. That’s not correct. When there are close relations, close interactions, at times there are bound to be certain strains, certain ups and downs. But generally our relations are normal. There is some misconceptions and misunderstandings about each other. So in my visit this time I’m trying to clarify some of the misunderstandings that have crept up. During my talks, specially with finance minister Pranab Mukherjee, who is a seasoned politician and senior leader in India, I think we managed to understand each other better. We want to improve the relations to mutual advantage. I think my visit will pave the way for that.

Q: Your party has a certain idea of how to break the political impasse in Nepal. The Indian government has its own opinion. Is reconciliation possible, and if so, how soon?
A: In my meetings with Mr Pranab Mukherjee, national security adviser Shivshankar Menon and foreign secretary Nirupama Rao, all of them stressed Nepal peace process is an indigenous, homegrown process. The Nepalese political parties should decide themselves. India is just a well-wisher. Being a big neighbour, important neighbour, we want to wish well for the success of this process, so all of them reiterated that. I think that is a very correct position. And we Nepalese parties must sort out problems ourselves and not blame others but we need cooperation from India, which we have been receiving in the past. In recent months, there have been certain straining of relations, so we would like to correct it.

Q: So India is not a stumbling block?
A: No. I don’t think...

Q: Is it a facilitator then?
A: Reality is all big neighbours have some impact, psychological or otherwise, on smaller neighbours. That happens everywhere, in the case of South Asia also. Because of the towering presence of India, the smaller neighbours at times feel uncomfortable but that is a psychological factor and that should be taken into account and treated correctly.

Q: Do you think the political parties will be able to end the stalemate?
A: We must. Because this is the last chance to make the peace process and constitution-making procedure a success. If peace process breaks down, you will fail to make the new constitution on time, and the democratic gains of the last 60 years will be frittered away, and that will be very dangerous for all of us. So all of us should do our best to save the peace process and make the constitution on time and move ahead.

Q: The political parties have not been able to forge a consensus in almost one year. There are only a few more months left now. Do you think it is possible?
A: That is a bit worrisome. For the last one year the political parties have been trying to sort out the problem but we have not been very successful so far. So now we have only about four or five months left. So we will have to cover up this time lag. And I hope all the parties will realise and soon will reach a consensus.

Q: Who do you think should be blamed for the impasse?
A: Let us not indulge in blame-game. It is not going to solve anything. So let us all share the blame. All political parties will share the blame and we are ready to take our part of the share.

Q: But who needs to be more flexible?
A: Naturally, the other political forces who were not for republicanism, who were not for constituent assembly, who were not for federalism. These demands were raised by the Maoists. Because of us, because of our movement, we have reached this far. So the other political parties who backed the monarchy earlier, I think they should be more responsible, and make this peace process a success.

Q: Your party resolution calls for mass revolt but you have opposed it. How will it impact on the peace process?
A: No, let me correct it. Our party has not adopted any such resolution. That were certain discussions in the party but ultimately we decided we should do our best to make this peace process and constitution-making process a success. So till the last moment we should contribute our might for the success of this process. In case that does not happen, then the people have the right to protest, in the form of a people’s movement. That is the last resort. So that is just a hypothetical proposition. In practice, till May 2011, our party will make all efforts to make the peace process a success. So this is the formal resolution of our party meeting. The reports appearing in the media are not correct.

Q: The mandate of the United Nations Mission in Nepal (UNMIN) will expire on January 15. Is there clarity on what will happen next?
A: The presence of UNMIN is very important for the success of the peace process. Though UNMIN has a very limited mandate, it has a huge psychological impact. In fact, it has been acting as a psychological deterrent for both sides not to go for a conflict. So we wish the presence of UNMIN would be extended for the last time, for the next three-four months, so that peace process could be over.

Q: There are worries that differences within the Maoist party will complicate the peace process. There is talk of rift between you and Maoist chairman Prachanda.
A: This is not a rift. This is a debate, a healthy debate within a democratic party and we have in fact resolved it for the time being. There were heated discussions in the party but ultimately we all came to the conclusion that there is no alternative to peace and democratic process. A common understanding was reached on this basis. So there is no reason to worry at the moment.

Q: Is there a danger that Nepal might slide back into violence?
A: The danger is there, but I’m optimistic. We are passing through a stage of an epochal change, and epochal changes do not take place in months or years, they take decades. So you shouldn’t be too pessimistic. I hope we will reach an understanding and we will focus on making the constitution, that is the key issue.

Q: What would be your message to the international community? Will you reassure them that the peace process will not be abandoned?
A: I would like to reassure the international community that the Maoist party is fully committed to the peace process. It was a well thought-out consideration to come to this process, so we are not going to abandon it. We will pursue it till the last moment, and we need cooperation from everybody, including the international community, and especially our immediate neighbours like India.

Q: Talking about government-formation, will your party be ready to sacrifice the post of Prime Minister?
A: We have already sacrificed. I think it is time for others to sacrifice. The Maoist party has been sacrificing all the time. Now it is the turn of the other parties to sacrifice and let the largest party lead the coalition government.

Q: Would you want to lead the government?
A: It is not a question of person. I am in favour of a national unity government and the leadership should be chosen through consensus. Whoever commands the consensus should lead it. I’m not staking any personal claim.

Q: You have spoken in the past about your support for the Indian-Maoists. What did you mean?
A: We don’t say support, we just say ideological affiliations are there. Being a Maoist we have ideological affiliations with all Maoists, not only in India. The people who subscribe to liberal democracy will have a certain stand. The people who subscribe to social democracy have their relations internationally. So we Maoists also have relations internationally. Apart from ideological, political affiliations or understanding, there is no physical or practical or technical relations with the Maoist movement in India.

Q: To end on a personal note, do you have any regrets? In hindsight, would you have acted differently or made choices differently?
A: I don’t have regrets but everybody should be good at learning. Nobody is perfect. We are ready to review wherever certain mistakes have been made. All should be prepared to correct it and we and our party and myself are prepared for that.