MORE DETAILS OF CONCILIATORY MAOIST CHIEF POSITION ON INDIA

MORE DETAILS OF CONCILIATORY MAOIST CHIEF POSITION ON INDIA





Kathmandu, 26 Sept.: Chairman of UCPN-Maoist Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ said Sunday that bilateral relationship between Nepal and India should be redefined in a new term, The Rising Nepal reports.
Addressing a function organised by Nepal-India Human Development and Friendly Association, Prachanda said that Nepal was in the process of developing relationship with India in a new way.
Nepal was expecting cooperation from India in concluding peace process and promulgating the new constitution, he said and recalled the Indian support in bringing the democratic forces and the Maoists together through the 12-point agreement.
"Nepali people wish cooperation, not interference from India," he said.
Highlighting that the political consensus was a must in concluding the peace process and constitution drafting process, he claimed that his party could even take unilateral step if other parties did make no effort to forge consensus on the peace process.
"Hopes have been restored after the formation of new government under the leadership of Dr. Baburam Bhattarai. All tasks from our side in peace process would be completed," he said.

Mentioning that the peace process and constitution could not be completed without forging political consensus, he said that the major cause behind the hindrance to the consensus was inability of other parties in accepting the UCPN-Maoist party as the largest party.
Nepali congress leader Dr. Ram Sharan Mahat said that the relation between Nepal and India was close. He also stressed the need to develop the relationship in a new basis.
He asked for the Indian investment in the development of water resources, tourism and herbs in Nepal.
Insisting that the UCPN-Maoist should adopt additional flexibility in concluding peace process, he said that the ball was in the court of the Maoists.
He further said that his party (NC) was willing to assist in the peace process at any cost if the Maoists moved peace process ahead loyally.
"The Maoists do not need to perform the task unilaterally as NC is ready to assist," he said.
CPN-UML leader Surendra Pandey said that his party could assist whatever needed if the government introduced tangible proposal in peace process and constitution.
Upendra Yadav, chairman of Madeshi Janaadhikar Forum Nepal, said that India should not behave as senior and junior brother.
Indian Ambassador to Nepal Jayanta Prasad said that that India was ready to move any steps for the welfare of Nepal
He said, "Nepal and India relation represents Bread and Daughter (Roti and Beti)."
Reiterating that India is in favor of peace and progress in Nepal, Jayanta Prasad said that India was eager to assist for the development of Nepal as the progress of Nepal was also India’s progress.
Nepal-India relation is unique as many Nepalis are in the Indian army and thousands of Nepalis are working in India, he said.
He also made it clear that India was ready to define Nepal-India relations in a new way.
General Secretary of the Association PK Thumba said that Nepal was able to take its decision on its own and there was no reason on Indian side to interfere with Nepal.
If Nepal’s sovereignty is protected, it is beneficial to India, he argued.
Member of the Samajbadi Party Akhilesh Singh stressed on forming a SAARC parliament for the welfare of south Asia including Nepal.
Congress I leader and Rajya Sabha member Alka Balram Chhetri said the relations between Nepal and India had been subsisting since the Dwapara Yuga.
The programme was attended by foreign department chief of the UCPN-Maoist Krishna Bahadur Mahara, employees at the Indian Embassy in Nepal and the representatives of the Association among others.
nnnn