Basu welcomes Nepal developments

Kolkata, Nov 10(UNI) Veteran Marxist leader Jyoti Basu today welcomed the peace accord between the Nepalese Government and Maoists, but remained silent on the possibility of talks between the Left Front Government and the underground Maoists.

''It is good news that there is a peace accord. Our party leaders are monitoring the developments in Nepal,'' he said after attending the CPI(M) State Secretariat meeting.

Mr Basu said Nepal's Deputy Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli was scheduled to meet Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacherjee and him during the day. ''But I heard the visit has been cancelled. I do not know the reason,'' he said.

The nonagenarian leader, however, did not reply a question as to whether the West Bengal Government would take cue from the Nepal Government to hold dialogues with the Maoists, largely operating in West Midnapore and Bankura districts.

The Left Front maintained in the past that the Maoists must shun violence before holding any talks.

UNI KDG KK/RL PM2018