Prachanda returns home, says India visit was fruitful

Kathmandu, Nov 15 : Nepal Prime Minister Prachanda returned home on Friday after wrapping up his three-day visit to India.

Addressing a press meet at Tribhuwan International Airport (TIA) here, Prachanda described his India visit as 'fruitful.'

He said that Indian leaders had expressed a desire to see Nepal's peace and constitution writing process proceed in an "understanding" manner.

Prachanda was in New Delhi to attend the second summit of Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC).

On the sidelines of the BIMSTEC summit, he met his Indian counterpart Dr. Manmohan Singh and requested him to release Maoist cadres, who are languishing in prisons in India.

"I requested him to release our cadres who are in Patna jail. He has given me positive commitment," Prachanda said

About 20 Maoists are serving terms in Patna jail.

India had released senior Nepali Maoist leaders Mohan Baidya and C.P. Gajurel from Jalpaiguri jail in West Bengal soon after the success of the April Movement in 2006. They had earlier spent two years in different jails in India.

They also discussed the disputed Susta and Kalapani border as well as other border areas.

Prachanda said that he had asked India to immediately speed up the work to repair and construct the embankment and roads destroyed by Koshi on August 18, Kantipur reported.

ANI