Nepal had offered to join Indian Union in 1947: Sudershan

Nagpur, Jun 8 (UNI) Nepal had made an offer to join the Indian Union soon after the country's independence in 1947, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief K S Sudershan claimed today.

''Shortly after independence, the then Nepal Prime Minister Matrukaprasad Koirala had conveyed his country's wish to join India to Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru,'' Mr Sudershan said while addressing the concluding function of the month-long officers training camp (OTC) of the organisation here.

However, Pt Nehru rejected the offer, fearing international criticism that India had turned expansionist immediately after freedom, he said.

Thus, the blame for the current instability in Nepal rests squarely on Pt Nehru, since it was his decision that enabled the Maoists, backed by China, to dig in their heels in the Himalayan kingdom, Mr Sudershan alleged.

These very Maoists are now in power in Nepal although they had polled only 29.73 per cent of the votes at the recent elections, he said.

The Sarsanghachalak also alleged that Pt Nehru had virtually given away Tibet on a platter to China, and was, therefore, responsible for the current phase of atrocities there.

China, a declared expansionist, had staked its claim to Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh, he said.

China had summoned the Indian ambassador early morning at 0200 hours to lodge a protest over the Prime Minister's visit to Arunachal, but the spineless Central government did not raise its voice against this because it depended upon communists for support, he added.

UNI AB SSS PDT UCS2313