'Prachanda seeks clarification on Kapoor's reported remarks'

Maoist supremo Prachanda, who earlier blamed India for the deepening political crisis in the country, today sought clarification from New Delhi about the reported remarks of Indian Army chief opposing en masse integration of the PLA guerrillas into the Nepal military, a news report said.

Maoist supremo Prachanda, who earlier blamed India for the deepening political crisis in the country, today sought clarification from New Delhi about the reported remarks of Indian Army chief opposing en masse integration of the PLA guerrillas into the Nepal military, a news report said.

HT Image

The UCPN-Maoist chairman today discussed Nepal's political developments, including the deepening political crisis with Bhagat Singh Koshiyari, the former Indian Chief Minister of Uttarakhand.

During the discussion, Prachanda sought an explanation on the reported remarks of Deepak Kapoor opposing en masse integration of the former Maoists guerrillas into the Nepal Army, said Republica newspaper, which quoted the state-run RSS news agency as saying.

Koshiyari, a top leader of India's main opposition Bharatiya Janata Party, told Prachanda that Kapoor´s statement was not an official statement of the Indian government and his party, the report said.

Indian ambassador Rakesh Sood yesterday met Prachanda ahead of his visit to New Delhi to brief the government on the political developments in Nepal, according to sources at the Indian Embassy.

Prachanda, who has accused India of "naked interference" in Nepal, has flayed Kapoor's reported remark.