Indian army chief in Kathmandu, Maoists greet him with black flags

Indian army chief Deepak Kapoor arrived in Kathmandu on Tuesday for a four-day official visit to Nepal at the invitation of his Nepali counterpart Chhatra Man Singh Gurung.

President Dr Ram Baran Yadav is scheduled to award Gen. Kapoor the honorary rank of General of Nepal Army amid a special function at the President’s Office, Shital Niwas, on Thursday evening. This comes after India President Pratibha Patil conferred the honorary rank of General of Indian Army to Nepal Army Chief Gurung during the latter’s visit to India last month.

The Nepal and Indian armies regard each other’s chiefs as the honorary generals of their own armies mainly due to their centuries-long close ties. The two armies have been exchanging goodwill visit since 1950 when the then chief of Indian Army, General Kodandera Madappa Cariappa visited Nepal.

The two army chiefs held a 40-minute long meeting at Nepal Army (NA) headquarters on Tuesday evening. It is learnt that they discussed about ‘security situations including the problems caused by the Maoists in India and other problems facing both the countries.

According to Public Relations Directorate of Nepal Army, Gen. Kapoor is scheduled to visit the high altitude military academy of Nepal Army in Jomsom, Mustang and the pension distribution centre of the Indian Army in Khara in Rukum on Wednesday.

On Thursday, Gen. Kapoor will visit the training centre for NA peace keeping training centre in Panchkhal of Kavre. He will meet with Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal and defense minister Bidhya Bhandari in Singha Durbar the same day.

The visit of Gen. Kapoor comes at a time when the UCPN (Maoists) have taken strong exception to the General´s reported comments on the issue of the integration of the Maoist combatants into the national army.

Kapoor, as reported in some sections of the media, had stated that bulk integration of the Maoist combatants in the national army with professional and apolitical character would not be a viable option.

Indian Embassy in Kathmandu had refuted his remarks on the issue saying they were ‘distorted’ and did not reflect the official position of India in view of growing Maoist protests.

Upon his arrival in Kathmandu, the Maoist-affiliated Young Communist League (YCL) cadres waved black flags at Kapoor while he was being escorted from Tribhuvan International Airport.

Police arrested at least seven Maoist cadres involved in greeting Gen. Kapoor with black flags.

The Maoists also organized a corner meeting in front of the Indian Embassy at Lainchaur, which was attended by the central committee members including Post Bahadur Bogati, Giriraj Mani Pokharel, Ram Bahadur Thapa, on Tuesday afternoon.

The Maoist lawmakers on Monday boycotted House meeting, seeking government’s official position on General Kapoor's reported remarks on army integration.

- Asian Tribune -