Maoists not abandoning path of revolution: Bhattarai

Mumbai, Jan 14 (PTI) Emphasising that Maoists are notabandoning path of revolution, Nepal''s top Maoist leaderBaburam Bhattarai today said his country will soon have a "newdemocracy which will work for the oppressed lot."

"Maoists are not abandoning the path of revolution. Westill firmly believe that we are on the right path, the pathof revolution. There is no alternative to revolution," hesaid.

The senior politburo member of the Nepalese Maoist Partyand former finance minister, was speaking at the AnuradhaGhandy Memorial lecture on ''The Road to New Democracy in Nepal- Problems and Challenges'', in south Mumbai this evening.

"We are on path of revolution and will remain so," hesaid.

Bhattarai said he was asked how he found time to attendthe lecture despite hectic political activity in his country.

"If I cannot honour someone who laid down life for people, wedon''t want prime ministership," he said. Nepal will soon seethe 17th round to elect a Prime Minister.

In his message to ''revolutionary comrades'' in India,Bhattarai said, "we must join hands..our enemy is one -- theruling class." "Till we are alive, we will be on path ofrevolution. We will usher in a new democracy," he said.

The Maoist belief is that the first priority should begiven to peaceful completion of social transformation, hesaid. "Our first choice is not revolution, it is peacefuldevelopment. But if that is not possible, we have to adoptarmed struggle," he added.

About 70-80 per cent of Nepal economy is controlled byIndian business, he said.