Kathmandu, July 19
Matrika Yadav, a leader of the CPN-Maoist Centre, said on Tuesday he went to Delhi a few days ago for treatment of his back, even as Indian media reported that the Maoist leader’s visit was aimed at courting Indian establishment’s support for the formation of a new government in Nepal under Maoist party Chair Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’.
The report described Prachanda as chief contender for the post of Prime Minister. Describing Yadav as ‘confidant’ of the chief contender and a member of the Maoist party’s Headquarters, the report said the prominent leader was in Delhi to “canvass for support days before Nepal’s Parliament elects a new government.”
Asked whether he indeed visited the Indian capital as Prachanda’s confidante, Maoist leader Yadav said he visited Apollo (Hospital) for treatment, as earlier.
THe HINDU said in a report titled ‘Before trust vote, Prachanda sends envoy to court Delhi’: During his three-day (July 15-17) visit, Mr Yadav met with official interlocutors and several opposition leaders including Congress leader Karan Singh, JD(U)’s Sharad Yadav, Nationalist Congress Party leader Devi Prasad Tripathi.
Responding to a query about the meeting, Yadav had this to say: Tripathi is like a friend of mine.
Hinting at the perception that the Maoist leader (Prachanda) is close to Beijing, the report quoted a source, who participated in the discussions, as saying: Mr Yadav sought our support for Mr Prachanda as there are some misperceptions about Prachanda in Delhi.
