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| Sunday, 2 October 2005 |
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Adhikari in two minds, condemns UNP leadership
A.M.S. Adhikari entered active politics as the Kalawewa UNP Organiser in 1965 and secured a seat in Parliament in 1974. He was in the House for more than 25 years and most of the time he was a cabinet minister. Adhikari who played a big role in the UNP has taken a back seat now. In an interview with our sister paper Silumina he explained his position. Q: How do you recap your political career? Adhikari: I entered active politics in 1965 and I lost my first attempt at election from the Kalawewa electorate in 1970. Anyhow, I was elected the next time and I represented the party in Parliament for 27 years and was in charge of several ministries. Late President J.R. Jayewardene appointed me to the Party's Executive Committee in 1974 and I held the post till Ranil Wickremesinghe became the leader of the UNP. The present leadership removed me from my first post of Organiser of Kalawewa electorate and then from the Leadership of the Anuradhapura district. I have not cheated the people who voted for me and I have not earned anything from politics. Q: What was the reason to ill-treat you like this? Adhikari: I am not the only one to be ill-treated. A number of seniors in the party were neglected and youths were promoted, but they did not work at any election when Ranil Wickremesinghe campaigned as the UNP leader. Q: Do you mean that Ranil's leadership is not satisfactory for the party? Adhikari: Yes. It has been proved that UNPers voted for the party but not for Ranil. At all four elections that Ranil contested in the Colombo district, he secured only 25 votes while the party received 100 votes. That is the reality. I simply say he is not the right leader for the UNP led by giants like the Senanayakes. Q: It was noted on several occasions that you had criticized the UNP's present leadership. Why is that? Adhikari: That is the party we worked for and I have a right to talk against anything which is not beneficial to the party. As a leader, Ranil has failed enough. I do not think that he would get a chance to build his shattered image again. During his last two year tenure what has he done for the country? He was unable to provide a single employment opportunity. However, he gave enough dreamy promises to the younger generation of the country and the public. His bracelets or chewing gum talks would not work anyhow. However, I should say that he always had a soft corner for some selected people in Cinnamon Gardens and they cannot alone win an election, forgetting the public who undergo numerous problems daily. Q: Do you try to justify the UNP's failure blaming the present leadership? How do you say that there are no other failures within the party? Adhikari: Well. Maybe there are failures within the party. But what of the leader? He should be capable of solving all the internal and external conflicts that weaken the party and lead the party to victory. Did he do it? He failed there. Leadership is the most important factor for any party, organization. See what the Freedom Alliance Government has done within a short period. While Ranil completely forgets all the university graduates, they have already provided employment opportunities for over 40,000 and they have much more practical plans. That is the power and the energy of the leadership. The UPFA has a strong leadership brimming with confidence. Nevertheless, we UNPers do not have that confidence in our leadership. That is why I am blaming the party's leadership. Q: Have you decided to join the SLFP? Adhikari: While I served in Parliament my wife represented the UNP in the Provincial Council. Then it was difficult to leave the party. Several invited us, but we have not decided yet what to do. However, one thing is crystal clear, that is, we are fed up with the present leadership as Ranil cannot lead the party to a victory. Q: As a senior UNPer, do you have any plans to prevent the party from facing disaster? Adhikari: Yes , I have tried to discuss the issue of the party leadership at the Party's head office. However, we were not allowed to talk anything, which Ranil does not want to follow. There is no place for our suggestions in the party and he pretends that he plays a big role with the assistance of several henchmen. Q: In this situation, have you decided to support the SLFP candidate at the Presidential election? Adhikari: I think we have time to decide whom to support. No nominations have been handed over yet. I will be taking the right decision at the right time. |
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