By IANS,
Kathmandu: Upset with anti-India attacks by Maoist leaders, India Saturday conveyed to Maoist leader and former prime minister Prachanda that “such baseless propaganda” vitiated the “age-old and time-tested friendly relations” and asked his party to honour its peace process commitments.
With the Nepal peace process floundering, India also stressed the importance of rebuilding consensus among political parties in Nepal and the need to draft the new constitution in time.
External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna, who is currently on a three-day visit to Nepal, met Pushpa Kamal Dahal �Prachanda,’ chairman of the Unified Communist Party of Nepal [Maoist], at Hotel Dwarika Friday evening.
“During their meeting Krishna stressed the importance of rebuilding consensus among political parties in Nepal to conclude the peace process and to draft the new Constitution within the stipulated timeframe,” external affairs ministry spokesperson Vishnu Prakash said here after the meeting.
Krishna urged the UCPN (Maoist) to fulfil its peace process commitments, which would enable Nepal to complete its historic transition to a multi-party and inclusive democracy.
Krishna “also conveyed his deep disappointment at the baseless attacks on India by the Maoist leadership which vitiate the age-old and time-tested friendly relations between India and Nepal and the people of the two countries,” the spokesperson added. He emphasised that such baseless propaganda has a negative impact on Indian public opinion, Prakash stressed.
“We had a very free and frank discussion on unequal treaties, border disputes, constitution, peace process and economic development of Nepal,” Prachanda said, adding that New Delhi has agreed to resolve these issues after the attacks.
Earlier this month, Prachanda accused New Delhi of indulging in “naked interference” in the affairs of Nepal and threatened that he would lead protests against alleged encroachment of Nepalese territories by India. The Maoists have alleged that the 22-party coalition led by Prime Minister Madhav Kumar in Nepal was acting like a “puppet” of New Delhi.