During a meeting with Maoist Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal at his residence at Naya Bazar Wednesday afternoon, visiting Indian Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao conveyed India’s displeasure over growing ‘anti-India’ activities on the part of the Maoists in Nepal. While seeking Maoists’ official position toward India, Rao told Chairman Dahal that continuation of such activities could harm the relation between India and the Maoists.[break]
Chairman Dahal had tried to assuage Rao’s concerns saying that they were not against India. “We said that our party’s policy is not against India,” Barshaman Pun, who was present at the meeting, told media persons. “We instead said that Nepalis want to see some revision in the agreements and treaties inked with India in the past.”
“Peoples from both Nepal and India think that the agreements and treaties should be revised in tune with the changed context. Our party also has the same policy,” Pun quoted Dahal as saying to Rao.
Rao’s concerns come amid the main opposition party intensifying protest against India as part of its ‘movement for national independence’ since the fall of Chairman Dahal-led government.
During the meeting that lasted for over 40 minutes, Chairman Dahal complained with Rao that India had unnecessarily interfered in Nepal’s internal affairs, including in the formation of a new government, but at the same time tried to solicit India’s support for the Maoist-led government.
According to Pun, Rao also expressed concern over the fate of ongoing peace process and constitution drafting process in Nepal following UNMIN’s exit. Chairman Dahal had claimed that peace process would move ahead smoothly as the parties have agreed to hand over all the responsibilities of UNMIN to the Special Committee.
Rao, however, did not want to divulge as to what transpired in the meeting. “We had a very transparent discussion with Maoist chairman. We stressed on the importance of speedy conclusion of the peace and constitution drafting process,” Rao said.
Rao also held separate meetings with NC President Sushil Koirala, senior leader Sher Bahadur Deuba, UML Chairman Jhalanath Khanal, Rastriya Janashakti Party Chairman Surya Bahadur Thapa and Chief of Army Staff Chhatraman Singh Gurung on Wednesday.
She also urged the political parties to move ahead by forging consensus.
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