— Photo: PTI

"THANKS FOR THE SUPPORT": Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha L.K. Advani greets the former Prime Minister of Nepal, Sher Bahadur Deuba, in New Delhi on Friday.

NEW DELHI: The former Nepal Prime Minister and Nepali Congress (Democratic) president, Sher Bahadur Deuba, said on Friday that though the Maoists would have to "ultimately" lay down arms before joining the Government, they should first stop "extortion" and return the "looted property" to the rightful owners.

Arms management

On the situation in Nepal vis-à-vis the Maoists, he said: "They have to assure the people of Nepal on arms management ... they have to stop extortion and return looted properties."

At the same time, hesaid the ruling Seven Party Alliance Government in Kathmandu should have consulted the Maoists before inviting the United Nations to monitor weapons held by the rebels and the Army ahead of the Assembly elections.

"Everybody should have been consulted," he said, while interacting with newspersons at the office of the Nationalist Congress Party here.

Thanks Manmohan

Mr. Deuba, here on a 10-day visit on invitation by the Nepal Democracy Solidarity Committee of India, thanked Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Congress president Sonia Gandhi and the people of India for helping Nepal to return to democracy. "I have met senior leaders of all parties, including L.K. Advani, Ms. Gandhi and Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee and expressed sincere gratitude on behalf of the Seven Party Alliance," he said. Mr. Deuba will call on the Prime Minister on Saturday.

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