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KATHMANDU: Just ahead of his India visit, Nepal's Maoist chief Prachanda has hinted at playing hardball with India, saying that India's security concern would not be addressed if his call for economic assistance to his country don't get a positive response.
59-year-old Prachanda is embarking on a four day visit to India this evening, along with a four member delegation. He will call on Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Congress president Sonia Gandhi and senior leaders of the opposition parties during the visit.
"I will raise the issue of Nepal's economic development during my India visit. If India doesn't cooperate, we too won't help address their security concerns," the Unified Communist Party of Nepal- Maoist(UCPN-M) chairman was quoted as saying by a national daily here.
Prachanda is coming to India shortly after returning from a week-long visit to China, where he held meetings with top level Chinese officials and political leaders, including newly elected President Xi Jinping.
"It is immature for a senior politician like Prachanda to play politics while dealing with sensitive matters, such as security concern of India, the rising power of Asia," said Mathawar Singh Basnet, a senior journalist and political analyst.
"If the Maoist leader tries to play cheap political game with the friendly neighbour of Nepal for his vested interest, his party would have to bear its repercussion," said Basnet, the Editor of 'Punarjagaran Weekly'.
Though economic agenda will be on top during Prachanda's high level parleys in New Delhi, he will also seek India's support in conducting Constituent Assembly elections to draft a new constitution, said standing committee member of UCPN-M, Dinanath Sharma.
"We need the support from both India and China for conducting the CA elections. UCPN-Maoist is committed to multi-party competitive democracy," he said.
Prachanda, who is known for his anti-India rhetoric after his removal from power when he had tussle with president Ram Baran Yadav over the issue of sacking the then Army chief Rukmangad Katuwal, "will also try to clear past mis-understandings with the southern neighbour", Sharma said.
UCPN-M has however softened its stance against India a couple of years ago, when Baburam Bhattarai was elevated to power with the backing of Madhesi parties.
Nepal plunged into a political and constitutional crisis in May 2012, when then Bhattarai dissolved the Constituent Assembly without drafting the constitution.
The political crisis further deepened as Bhattarai failed to conduct new polls in November last year, despite his promise to do so.
At present, Nepal's major parties have formed an Election government led by Chief Justice Khil Raj Regmi and agreed to hold fresh polls at the earliest.
Though political parties had earlier reached an agreement to conduct elections in June, it is unlikely to be held before November due to the absence of necessary regulations and lack of political consensus.
Maoist chief Prachanda to press for economic assistance on his India visit - The Times of India
59-year-old Prachanda is embarking on a four day visit to India this evening, along with a four member delegation. He will call on Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Congress president Sonia Gandhi and senior leaders of the opposition parties during the visit.
"I will raise the issue of Nepal's economic development during my India visit. If India doesn't cooperate, we too won't help address their security concerns," the Unified Communist Party of Nepal- Maoist(UCPN-M) chairman was quoted as saying by a national daily here.
Prachanda is coming to India shortly after returning from a week-long visit to China, where he held meetings with top level Chinese officials and political leaders, including newly elected President Xi Jinping.
"It is immature for a senior politician like Prachanda to play politics while dealing with sensitive matters, such as security concern of India, the rising power of Asia," said Mathawar Singh Basnet, a senior journalist and political analyst.
"If the Maoist leader tries to play cheap political game with the friendly neighbour of Nepal for his vested interest, his party would have to bear its repercussion," said Basnet, the Editor of 'Punarjagaran Weekly'.
Though economic agenda will be on top during Prachanda's high level parleys in New Delhi, he will also seek India's support in conducting Constituent Assembly elections to draft a new constitution, said standing committee member of UCPN-M, Dinanath Sharma.
"We need the support from both India and China for conducting the CA elections. UCPN-Maoist is committed to multi-party competitive democracy," he said.
Prachanda, who is known for his anti-India rhetoric after his removal from power when he had tussle with president Ram Baran Yadav over the issue of sacking the then Army chief Rukmangad Katuwal, "will also try to clear past mis-understandings with the southern neighbour", Sharma said.
UCPN-M has however softened its stance against India a couple of years ago, when Baburam Bhattarai was elevated to power with the backing of Madhesi parties.
Nepal plunged into a political and constitutional crisis in May 2012, when then Bhattarai dissolved the Constituent Assembly without drafting the constitution.
The political crisis further deepened as Bhattarai failed to conduct new polls in November last year, despite his promise to do so.
At present, Nepal's major parties have formed an Election government led by Chief Justice Khil Raj Regmi and agreed to hold fresh polls at the earliest.
Though political parties had earlier reached an agreement to conduct elections in June, it is unlikely to be held before November due to the absence of necessary regulations and lack of political consensus.
Maoist chief Prachanda to press for economic assistance on his India visit - The Times of India
