The Hindu : International : "Maoist problem was main focus of talks"

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Jun 16, 2005

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International

"Maoist problem was main focus of talks"

I have returned with the goodwill of the Indian Government and the people: Girija Prasad Koirala

KATHMANDU: Nepali Congress president Girija Prasad Koirala said on Wednesday that the Maoist problem was the main focus of the discussions with Indian leaders during his just-concluded visit to New Delhi. He had got support for the joint agitation against King Gyanendra's power grab.

"Positive attitude"

The Indian Government and the people had a very positive attitude towards the seven-party joint movement for restoration of democracy, he said at a press conference called after security forces prevented him from interacting with the media at the Tribhuvan International Airport.

"I have returned to Nepal with [the] goodwill of the Indian Government and the people. I am fully satisfied with the visit," he said. He had held talks with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Congress president Sonia Gandhi, Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee, Foreign Minister K. Natwar Singh, the former Prime Ministers Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Chandrasekhar and I.K. Gujral and Communist Party of India (Marxist) and Communist Party of India leaders.

The octogenarian leader said that though the purpose of the 12-day trip was to have a medical check-up, he had held talks with different leaders on the Nepalese situation, "mainly the Maoist problem."

"Our discussion focused on how to solve the Maoist problem that had claimed 12,000 lives in [the] past ten years." Mr. Koirala was evasive when asked whether he had talks with the Maoists in Delhi as speculated by a section of the media here. "Even if I have met Maoists, you shouldn't be surprised because it is the political parties which ultimately have to deal with the Maoist problem and bring them to the political mainstream."

Peace talks

Regarding peace talks with the Maoists, he said "if we could create a conducive atmosphere, the Maoists may come for a dialogue.''

— PTI

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