POST REPORT

KATHMANDU, Aug 16 - United CPN (Maoist), the main opposition party in the Constituent Assembly rejected the idea of implementing the much-talked of Pancheshwor Hydropower Project and threatened of revolt if the deal was signed with India.
During an all-party meeting called by Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal in Singhadurbar on Sunday, Maoist central committee member Krishna Bahadur Mahara advised against making any controversial deal during the prime minister's India visit and asked him to focus on bilateral cooperation.

 At the meeting, Prime Minister Nepal had briefed about the possible agendas to be discussed during the visit scheduled to begin from Tuesday.

Nepal said he wanted to push the project ahead so that Nepal could benefit from its early execution. Leaders from ruling parties had supported the prime minister's proposal on implementing the project, saying it was not against national interest, but the Maoists thought differently.

“We will revolt if the prime minister signs any controversial pact during his India visit. He must forge national consensus before signing any deal on Pancheshwor. Instead, we suggest that he find a way to narrow the trade deficit with India, which is a matter of worry for Nepal,” Krishna Bahadur Mahara, UCPN (Maoist) central committee member said.

The prime minister also met President Dr. Ram Baran Yadav on Sunday and apprised him of the agendas of his India visit.

According to a source at the President's Office, Nepal told him no controversial pact would be signed and that the two discussed issues of trade, commerce, economic assistance and import of electricity. The source, however, said the prime minister wanted to implement the Pancheshwor project for the sake of people and the economy.
Source: The Kathmandu Post 17 August 2009