India expresses displeasure over Maoists’ anti-India campaign

India has taken strong exception to the ongoing protest activities of the UCPN (Maoists) against what they call India’s interference in Nepal’s internal affairs and encroachment of Nepali territory.

During a meeting with the Maoist Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal and other senior Maoist leaders, Indian External Affairs Minister S M Krishna told that such protests could harm relationship between India and the Maoists. He is also known have suggested the Maoists to take up the issues, if any, through diplomatic channels.

India´s discontent with the Maoists comes in the wake of the main opposition party, Maoists, have been launching a nationwide awareness campaign for "national independence" as a part of their fourth round of protests. Most of their protest activities are in anti-India theme.

On December 22, in his uncharacteristic public outburst against the southern neighbor, the Maoist Chairman Dahal had accused India of behaving as master and directly interfering Nepal’s internal affairs. The Maoists also allege that India had encroached upon Nepali territory in various parts of Indo-Nepal border.

The former rebels, who fought a decade-long civil war with the state before getting majority seats in the Constituent Assembly held in April, 2008, stepped down from the government in May 2009 after President Dr Ram Baran Yadav reinstated then army chief Rookmangud Katawal sacked by the Maoist-led government.

Since then, the Maoists have been launching a series of protest programs including anti-India protests. The Maoists allege that India had backed ceremonial president to block the decision taken by the elected government, putting them in moral pressure to quit the government.

As a part of their nationwide awareness campaign for ‘national independence’, Maoist leaders last week visited different disputed areas along Indo-Nepal border, vowing to return the seized land.

“I did convey to him [Dahal], based on reports and the Maoist statements in the last ten to twelve days. So I registered that India would like to continue good relations with all political parties, including Maoists,” Krishna told media persons before flying back home on Sunday after three-day official visit to Nepal.

India has maintained that the Maoists allegations that India had encroached upon Nepali territory are baseless and warned that such allegations could ‘vitiate the age-old and time-tested friendly relations’ between the two countries.

“We have conveyed to the Maoist leadership that we would like to deal with them just like we deal with other political parties in Nepal with sense of respect and equality. We hope that they [Maoists] would realize the good intention of my visit,” Krishna further said.

- Asian Tribune -