Prachanda set for 2nd India visit to discuss "unequal" pacts

KATHMANDU: Nepal's Maoist Prime Minister Prachanda, who was in India on a "goodwill" visit in September, is set for another trip to New Delhi where he plans to take up the abrogation of "unequal treaties" with its giant neighbour.

"My first India visit was a goodwill one this time I will raise the issue of all the past unequal treaties, including the unequal treatment meted out to Nepal on Mahakali- Pancheshwar Treaty," the Prime Minister said.

Prachanda, whose real name is Pushpa Kamal Dahal, had sparked a controversy by visiting China soon after he took office in August in departure with tradition where top Nepalese leaders made New Delhi the first port of call. Nepal swore in its first post-royal government on August 22,

Prachanda, who was on a four-day "official" visit to India in September, will be heading to New Delhi in November for his second visit in three months.

"We were unable to raise important issues during my first India trip, nevertheless, we are now all prepared to bring into discussion those issues in my next India trip scheduled after three weeks," the Prime Minister said in Nepal's western town of Mahendranagar yesterday.

During his September visit, Prachanda' had stressed the need to redefine bilateral ties and review all treaties, including the 1950 Indo-Nepal Peace and Friendship agreement, in new perspectives. He had harped on the need to push the bilateral relations on a new basis by breaking the old chain of ties.

"We are for revising and if need be abrogating all the past unequal treaties signed between Nepal and India," the Prime Minister was quoted as saying by the Telegraph Nepal online today.

According to reports, Prachanda is scheduled to visit New Delhi in November to attend a regional economic summit and to take part in a private conference.

The formation of the Maoist-led government follows the Himalayan country's abolition of its unpopular 240-year-old monarchy on May 28 after the CPN-Maoist emerged as the largest party in the April 10 Constitutional Assembly polls.

The Maoists, who waged a decade-long insurgency, joined mainstream politics after a 2006 peace deal with the interim government led by G P Koirala.