Unified CPN Maoists chairman and Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal has reportedly said that the real strength of the People’s Liberation Army was around 8000 and not 35,000 as earlier claimed by the party. The news became public after a video was run by Image Channel which shows him reportedly addressing PLA commanders at Shaktikhor. The channel claimed that the video was recorded on 2nd January 2008. The video shows Dahal as saying that after the verification by UNMIN the total number of PLA fighters had gone up. He says in the video that had we given our real numbers, our strength would have come down to 4000. Talking about establishing total control over the Nepal Army he says that even a ‘small number’ of PLA fighters was enough to take control of NA and that army chief Katawal was against the integration. Video also sees him talking about a revolt and says that all the leaders were working towards it. The video also shows Prachanda saying that the party needs money from the persons who had been declared ‘martyrs’ and said that out of 10 lakhs they were supposed to get, 9 lakhs should come to the party which will help them to further their goals. Interestingly the video was made public by the channel immediately after the resignation of Prime Minister Dahal. Maoist leader Mohan Baidya 'Kiran' said that this tape was genuine but it was a Maoist strategy two years back. He added that now the situation had changed and Maoists had adopted a democratic way of life and these comments were irrelevant. He also said that it should be investigated why the tape was made public after such a long time. He however did not comment on the claims of Prachanda on inflating the number of PLA fighters.