Kathmandu: Anti-India activities by Maoists, including targeting of its diplomats and joint ventures in Nepal, were raised by External Affairs Minister S M Krishna during his crucial talks with the former rebels` supremo
Prachanda here Friday.
Krishna, who is on a three-day visit to Nepal, conveyed
his concerns to UCPN-Maoist chief Prachanda, against the
backdrop of incidents targeting Indian Ambassador Rakesh Sood
and defacing of Indian national flag by Maoists.
When Sood recently visited Kailali, Gulmi and some other
districts outside Kathmandu to hand over Indian-aided projects
in the fields of education, health and drinking water, local
Maoist cadres waved black flags, shouted anti-India slogans
and tried to disrupt the programmes.
In some places, where various roads and bridges were
constructed under Indian assistance, the Maoists defaced the
Indian national flag.
Ahead of Krishna`s visit that began on Wednesday, Maoists
had also stormed a meeting of Indian infrastructure company
GMR, which is working on a hydropower project in Nepal.
During his meeting with Krishna, Prachanda told him that
Maoists wanted to establish relations with India with a new
basis, party sources said.
Krishna and Prachanda also discussed Nepal`s peace
process, Constitution-drafting, army integration and India`s
relations with UCPN-Maoist, they said.
The talks came a day after Krishna met Nepali Congress
President Sushil Koirala and its Parliamentary Party leader
Ramchandra Poudyal; CPN-UML standing committee member K P
Sharma Oli and former Prime Minister and CPN-UML leader Madhav
Kumar Nepal.
Koirala told Krishna that Maoists were not sincere about
the peace process and the Constitution-drafting and peace
process had been stalled due to their attitude.
Former premier Nepal, during his meeting with Krishna,
said that a broad national consensus government with the
inclusion of the Nepali Congress, Maoists, CPN-UML and Madhesi
parties must be formed for the successful conclusion of the
peace process in Nepal.
Krishna also met Nepal Army chief Chhatra Man Singh
Gurung and asked him about the roadmap of the integration of
the Maoist combatants into the national army.
The army chief emphasised the need for high-level
political consensus for integration and rehabilitation of the
former combatants.
PTI
