Ashok Rai Should Not Choose the Path of Political Suicide: Purna Basnet

Purna Basnet, Head of the Publicity Department of the Janata Samajwadi Party (JSP) Nepal, stated that the party’s President Ashok Rai should not choose the path of political suicide.

Amid discussions of a possible unity with the Nepal Communist Party, Basnet emphasized that as Ashok Rai approaches the later stages of his political career, he should not be distracted or confused from his principles and agenda.

He added that politicians carrying new responsibilities for the upliftment of oppressed communities and the working class should not take such a decision.

Basnet said, “Ashok Rai, one of the senior leaders who leads the socialist ideology as an alternative to communist and capitalist ideas, has not been distracted from his principles and agenda till today, and in my personal understanding, he will not be distracted in the days to come. Socialist consolidation is a necessity today, and for that, Ashok Rai should be courageous.”

Basnet expressed surprise over the discussions of a unity talk with the Nepal Communist Party, considering that Ashok Rai has been leading the cause of identity and socialist ideals.

He further noted that Ashok Rai, an indefatigable warrior who has kept the issue of identity alive and strong after it was abandoned by the then CPN-Maoist, should take initiative for socialist consolidation.