Prachanda says Indo-Nepal 1950 treaty needs to be reviewed

Kathmandu, Sept 4 (PTI) - Ahead of his proposed visit to
India, the new Nepalese Prime Minister Prachanda has said that
the historic 1950 Indo-Nepal trade and transit treaty needed
to be reviewed.

"Nepal has now become a republic after big political
changes, therefore the 1950 treaty needs to be reviewed,"
Prachanda told B.B.C. Nepali service.

This were his first comments on the treaty, but he did
not give details as to what needs to be changed.

The Nepalese premier, whose recent visit to Beijing had
been perceived as a snub to New Delhi, said he would visit
India before going to attend the annual session of the UN
General Assembly, without specifying any dates.

However, the foreign ministry sources said the tentative
schedule for a visit was Sept 17-18.

In the interview, Nepal's first Maoist prime minister
indicated that he would avoid any showdown with the country's
still powerful army.

Though Prachanda had serious differences with the Army
Chief Rukmangad Katuwal, he said he had no plans to sack him.

"As long as any one including Army, police and other
officials remain committed to people's mandate on democracy,
peace and change, no one needs to feel insecure. There will
not be prejudice against any one," he said.

Stressing on restraint at this moment, the prime minister
said that Nepal would suffer "if we make any move that is
prejudiced".

On drafting 20,000 Maoist combatants now staying in
cantonments into the Army, Prachanda said his cadres would be
given freedom to chose to return home or remain in the
profession.

"I cannot say who will join the Army and who wants to
return home at this moment," he said.

On whether the new government would order a fresh probe
into the Royal palace massacre of 2001, in which the entire
family of King Birendra was wiped out, Prachanda said that the
issue would be raised in the Constituent Assembly.

"There has not been any satisfactory answer to the
people's serious question in the matter," he said. PTI SBP