NEPAL: Indian envoy meets Prachanda ahead of Delhi visit

FROM PRESS TRUST OF INDIA

BY SHIRISH B. PRADHAN

Kathmandu (PTI) Indian ambassador Rakesh Sood today met Maoists supremo Prachanda as the former rebels have blamed New Delhi for Nepal’s deepening political crisis.

During the meeting at Prachanda’s residence they discussed bilateral relations and the current political situation, according to sources at the Indian Embassy.

Addressing a rally in Kathmandu last week, Prachanda accused India of “naked interference” in the internal affairs of Nepal and expressed desire to hold “direct talks” with New Delhi, ignoring the “puppet government” here to end the deadlock in the country.

Prachanda also demanded the scrapping of the landmark 1950 Indo-Nepal Peace and Friendship Treaty along with all other “unequal” pacts with India. The former rebel leader also called for the withdrawal of Indian troops from Kalapani, a disputed part of Nepal?s territory on the borders of India, Nepal and China.