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VOL. 28, NO. 21, Feb 05, 2009 (Magh 23 2065 B.S.)
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Indian Revelation
Nepalese Maoist leaders including Prachanda described India's role in bringing them to mainstream, recent revelation by Indian external affairs minister Pranab Mukherjee confirms it
By A CORRESPONDENT
After being elected as the prime minister, Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda' repeatedly mentioned about his eight-years-long exile in India and India's role in forging the alliance between Maoists and Seven Party Alliance. Last week, Indian external affairs minister Pranab Mukherjee reconfirmed it officially from the Indian side.
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Mukherjee: Frank Revelation |
In his interview to Al Jazeera Television Channel, Indian foreign minister Mukherjee disclosed how they had supported the Maoists to lead the government. Replying to a question on India's rising status on the world stage, Minister Mukherjee said, "In fact, in our modest efforts we try to maintain peace, tranquility in our immediate neighborhood but also in the extended neighborhood. I am just giving you an example when there was trouble in one of our Himalayan countries, our neighbor Nepal; we persuaded the political parties which resorted to guns and violence, the Maoists in Nepal, that they give up violence [and] participate in the mainstream national political activities. They agreed, listened to our advice and now in collaboration with other democratic parties they formed the government, they are leading the government."
Nepalese political leaders including former prime minister Girija Prasad Koirala, who was considered to be a key player in the peace process, remained tightlipped over the comments made by Indian external affairs minister.
Some low ranking Maoist leaders Bamdev Chettri, former librarian of Jawaharlal Nehru University, which many consider as an origin and hotbed of Nepali Maoists, criticized Indian external affair minister Mukherjee's statement. All the top leaders, however, remained tight lipped.
Prime minister Prachanda had repeatedly talked about his whereabouts during the violent insurgency and peace process. "Out of ten years long insurgency, I spent eight years in India," said Prachanda, addressing a press conference in his official visit to India.
In a biography written by an Indian journalist Anirban, Prachanda honestly expresses his whereabouts during the period of insurgency.
Indirectly hinting at remarks of Indian external affairs minister, Minister for Information and Communication Krishna Bahadur Mahara said, "Colonialists and expansionists are trying to take the credit for declaring Nepal as a republic. This is not acceptable to us."
