India backs home-grown peace process in Nepal

Shirish B Pradhan

Kathmandu, Nov 25 (PTI) India Tuesday told Nepal that it
had "no objection" to a peace process in the Himalayan country
that was of "Nepalese origin and orientation".

Favouring building of political consensus for drafting
the country's first-ever Constitution, External Affairs
Minister Pranab Mukherjee, said all political parties should
be involved in the framing of the document.

Mukherjee, the first high-level Indian leader to visit
the land-locked country after its recent transition to
democracy, held a "very productive" meeting with Nepal Prime
Minister Prachanda Tuesday during which issues of bilateral
concern, including repair of the Kosi embankment and
maintenance of the East West highway figured.

"We have no objection in a peace process that has
Nepalese origin and orientation," Special Adviser to Nepal
Prime Minister Hira Bahadur Thapa quoted Mukherjee as telling
Prachanda.

Thapa also said that the major issue of review of the
Indo-Nepal Trade and Transit Treaty of 1950 did not figure in
talks on the second day of Mukherjee's three-day visit.

Steering clear of any direct involvement, Mukherjee
impressed upon Prachanda the need for building consensus among
political parties in framing the new Constitution.

Mukherjee's visit comes as the ruling Maoists are in the
midst of a crucial debate regarding the future political
system in the country -- whether to continue with multi-party
system or opt for a single party Communist rule.

Mukherjee, whose meeting with Prachanda stretched for
about 40 minutes told mediapersons that the talks which
included Finance Minister and senior Maoist leader Baburam
Bhattarai as well, were productive and extremely fruitful.

"My talks with Prime Minister Prachanda were very
productive and very fruitful," he said following his third
interaction with Prachanda in as many months.

The two had met for the first time in New Delhi during
Prachanda's India visit in September, while their second
meeting took place during the Bay of Bengal Initiative for
Multi Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC)
Summit in November.

A wide range of issues, including Constitution drafting
process, integration of Maoist rebels into Nepalese army,
economic assistance to Nepal and containment of the breach in
the Kosi barrage figured during the parleys, Thapa said.

India has provided help to Nepal for democratisation
since the signing of the 12 point agreement between the
political parties and the Maoists, Thapa told media persons
quoting the Prime Minister.

Expressing happiness over Nepal's transition to
democracy, Mukherjee said, "we are satisfied that we have been
able to assist in Nepal in its peaceful transformation."

He also expressed India's commitment to provide
assistance to Nepal "in whatever way it wants".

"Nepal and India had secretary level bilateral talks in
the past on different areas including home affairs, commerce
and water resources, but progress was not satisfactory," he
said, adding the two countries have now realised the need to
expedite work in areas, including repair of the Kosi barrage.

Thapa said it was decided that work will be expedited on
the repair of the Kosi barrage, whose breakdown had caused
widespread floods on both sides of the border earlier this
year.

"Repair work will be completed by March 2009 and the Kosi
river will be brought to its original course," Thapa said.

Prachanda also assured Mukherjee that Nepal government is
committed to creating an investment friendly and conducive
environment to attract Indian investors to the country, Thapa
said.

Regarding the controversial process of integration of
former Maoist rebels into the Nepalese army, Prachanda said an
Army Integration Special Committee has already been formed and
the process will move ahead quickly with discussions with
major political parties.

Mukherjee will also hold bilateral talks with Foreign
Minister Upendra Yadav and pay a courtesy call to President
Ram Baran Yadav and Vice President Parmananda Jha this
afternoon.

He is also scheduled to meet Nepali Congress president
Girija Prasad Koirala and Rastriya Prajatantra Party president
Pashupati Shumsher Rana.

Yesterday he met Nepali Congress leader Sher Bahadur
Deuba and Communist Party of Nepal-Unified Marxist Leninst
general secretary Jhalanath Khanal separately.
Mukherjee will visit to Birgunj and Kosi before leaving
for India Wednesday.