NEW DELHI CAN SPEEK UP PEACE PROCESS SAYS MAOIST CHIEF

NEW DELHI CAN SPEED UP PEACE PROCESS SAYS MAOIST CHIEF

Kathmandu, 26 Sept.: UCPN-Maoist Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ today said the peace process could be concluded soon if India played a constructive role –– similar to the one it played during the signing of the 12-point pact between the then CPN-Maoist and the seven-party alliance, The Himalayan Times writes..


Addressing a function organised by Nepal-India Human Development and Friendship Association, Dahal said the 12-point pact would not have been possible without India’s cooperation.


It was the 12-point deal inked in Delhi that prepared grounds for the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA), which ultimately brought the Maoists to mainstream politics.


“Nepali people want cooperation, not interference, from India,” Dahal said, adding that Nepal-India relations need to be redefined.


“Nepalis want to build relations with India on a new basis and they want a similar response from India,” he told the audience.


Dahal blamed Nepali Congress and UML for impeding the peace process and said his party would unilaterally take the process ahead if other political parties did not support its initiative.


He, however, said the formation of the government under the leadership of Baburam Bhattarai was an encouraging sign.


“An agreement akin to the 12-point pact should be inked taking both the NC and the UML into confidence,” added the Maoist


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