Prachanda under pressure to demand end to "unequal" pacts

KATHMANDU: Prime Minister Prachanda is under intense pressure from the Maoist leadership to discuss the review of all "unequal" pacts with India, including the landmark 1950 Indo-Nepal Peace and Friendship Treaty, during his forthcoming visit to New Delhi from September 14.

The CPN-Maoist leadership, which is holding discussions to set the agenda for the landmark visit, has stepped up pressure on the prime minister to take up the review of all "unequal treaties" signed between Nepal and India in the past, including the 1950 Treaty.

The visit, termed as "first political visit" by Prachanda, comes amid row between the two neighbours over the breach of the embankment of the Kosi river, which has flooded Nepal's southern district of Sunsari and the northern parts of Bihar in India.

Maoists Minister for Peace and Reconstruction Janardan Sharma Prabhakar today told reporters that the Prime Minister should take up the issue of review of the 1950 treaty with the Indian government as per the demand of the Nepalese people, who want to re-evaluate this unequal treaty.

The CPN-Maoist party has planed a key meeting on September 12 to firm up the agenda for the Prime Minister's India visit, sources said.

Prachanda's five day visit from September 14 has been scheduled after his China visit last month, which sparked a controversy in both India and Nepal when he broke with tradition of Nepalese top leaders making New Delhi the first port of call after taking office.

He will be accompanied by a high-level delegation, including Deputy Prime Minister Bam Dev Gautam, Finance Minister Baburam Bhattarai and Water Resources Minister Bishnu Poudyal, according to a source close to Poudyal.