Prachanda denies links with Indian Maoists

Kathmandu, Nov 8 : At a time of speculation that the Indian Maoists are getting support from Nepalese Maoists, Maoist chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda has said there is no link between the two extremist forces.

The Himalayan Times quoted Mr Dahal as saying that "they had no link with Indian Maoists in the present context" but revealed that "they were in touch with the Indian Maoists during the decade long conflict." The statement of former prime minister has come at a time when the Indian officials have said the Nepalese Maoists have links with the Indian Maoists and they are helping them.

Indian Home Secretary GK Pillai is also said to have raised the issue with the Nepalese Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal during his meeting in Kathmandu on Friday.

Both the Maoists have the same ideologies. However, the Nepalese Maoists have abandoned the decade long insurgency that killed 14,000 people and came to the peace process in 2006 and now they are the largest party in the 601-member Constituent Assembly.

Maoists, who are accused of being close to China, have said that they want to maintain equal relations with the two neighbours.

Mr Dahal said, "his party's view is to maintain equidistant and balanced relations with China and India."

--UNI

(c) 2009 Published with permission from United News of India.
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