After blaming New Delhi’s “naked interference” for the deepening political crisis in the country, Maoists’ supremo Prachanda said he would lead protests against alleged encroachment of Nepalese territories by its giant neighbour.
The politburo of the main opposition Unified CPN (Maoist) today decided to organise protests in the disputed border regions where India has allegedly encroached Nepalese territories. The former rebels will also protest against alleged unilateral construction of dams by India near the border that has led to Nepalese territory being inundated.
Maoists chairman Prachanda will lead the protest in the disputed Kalapani region, the tri-junction between Nepal, India and China, said Narayan Kaji Shrestha, the deputy leader of the Parliamentary party.
Mr. Prachanda has called for the withdrawal of Indian troops from Kalapani, a disputed part of Nepal’s territory on the borders of India, Nepal and China.
Vice chairman Baburam Bhattarai will take charge of protests in Susta of Nawalparasi district while hardline leader Mohan Vaidya Kiran will lead the protest in Pashupatinagar in Ilam district.
Mr. Shrestha will address anti-India rallies at the Laxmanpur dam site, which the Maoists claim has led to Nepalese territory being inundated due to alleged unilateral construction of dams by India near the border.
Mr. Prachanda has demanded the scrapping of the 1950 Indo-Nepal Peace and Friendship Treaty along with all other “unequal” pacts with India and sought the ending of “special relationship” with its southern giant neighbour.
The Maoists’ party is yet to decide on the date of the agitation and decision of the politburo has to be endorsed by the central committee meeting to be held shortly.
The Maoists have threatened to paralyse the country with an indefinite general strike from January 24 if the government failed to rectify the “unconstitutional” decision of President Ram Baran Yadav, who reinstated the then army chief Gen Rukmangad Katawal, dismissed by Prachanda in May last year.
The Maoists have declared that the fourth phase of their agitation will focus on opposing the alleged “expansionist attitude” of India.
The anti-India move of the former rebels comes ahead of a planed three-day visit by Indian Foreign Minister S. M. Krishna to Nepal in mid-January.
The Maoists have alleged that the present 22-party coalition led by Prime Minister Madhav Kumar in Nepal was formed by India's initiative and that the government is acting like a “puppet”.
Political tensions have been high in Nepal since the government led by Mr. Prachanda resigned last year amid the dispute with the president over the army chief’s refusal to incorporate former Maoist rebels fighters into the military.
