INDO NEPAL RELATIONS: Power play – Prachanda slams India

Kathmandu, 6 JAN: Bringing the differences in the Maoist leadership to the fore, party chief Prachanda has claimed that India favours his second-in-command Baburam Bhattarai for Nepal’s prime ministership, prompting the latter to hit back at him.

Prachanda said in a programme in Kathmandu last week that India wants to make Bhattarai the Prime Minister of Nepal and has been “putting pressure” in this regard. Bhattarai has slammed the party supremo’s statement.

“It is an attempt to assassinate my character,” Bhattarai told reporters after the party’s central committee meeting yesterday. The Maoist number two leader also lodged a strong protest against Prachanda’s remarks during the meeting, the Republic daily reported quoting party sources.

“Why don’t you tell others when some Indian leaders have also proposed your (Prachanda’s) name as the next Prime Minister candidate,” Bhattarai is reported to have said.

Meanwhile, Maoist spokesman Dinanath Sharma has alleged that India was trying to create a division within the party by backing one against the other.

“It is a game plan of India to play one leader against the other,” Sharma said.

source: Statesman