The Hindu : National : Govt.: no change in policy towards Maoists in Nepal

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Friday, May 27, 2005

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Govt.: no change in policy towards Maoists in Nepal

Diplomatic Correspondent

No change in India's policy towards Maoists: External Affairs Ministry

NEW DELHI: Communist Party of India (Marxist) General Secretary Prakash Karat on Thursday denied a report in a section of the press that he met Nepalese Maoist leader Baburam Bhattarai in a meeting arranged by Indian security agencies.

In a press statement, Mr. Karat said, "The report in the Times of India that I have met a Maoist leader from Nepal in a meeting arranged by the Indian security agencies is untrue. No such meeting was held."

An External Affairs Ministry spokesman told mediapersons that there had been no change in India's policy towards the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist). "We unequivocally condemn their terrorist and violent activities that have caused enormous suffering to the people of Nepal ... It is our conviction that there is no purely military solution to the Maoist insurgency. Durable peace and stability in Nepal can be achieved only through a political settlement which, among other things, requires the Maoists to forswear armed struggle and lay down their arms. India is committed to supporting all efforts at restoring peace, political stability and economic prosperity in Nepal," he said.

Asked whether Mr. Bhattarai was in the capital, the spokesman said that he had no information on the subject. He had no information on whether Mr. Bhattarai was in India or not.

Bharatiya Janata Party spokesman Prakash Javadekar said the Government and the CPI (M) owed an "explanation" to the country on "how and why" intelligence agencies were being used for political purposes.

Mr. Javadekar wondered what the Government's policy on Nepal was. It seemed to be giving arms to the Nepalese Government to fight the Maoists and holding "talks" with the Maoists at the same time.

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