New Delhi: Days after they sparred over who
is India`s favourite for Nepal`s premiership, Maoist number
two Baburam Bhattarai has flayed party chief Prachanda for his
anti-India stance and said "blind nationalism" does not work.
"Anti-Indian nationalism has always prevailed in Nepal.
But blind nationalism does not work. I have always been in
favour of a rational debate and consensus, but there are
people in my party as well as other parties who are followers
of blind nationalism," Maoist ideologue Bhattarai said in an
interview to the `Outlook` magazine.
"Anti-Indian venom is the result of such blind
nationalism," he said.
Criticising Maoist chairman and former Nepal Prime
Minister Prachanda for his anti-India stance, Bhattarai said
political differences between Kathmandu and New Delhi should
be settled in a "polite" manner.
"A leader should be diplomatic and political when he
speaks. We shouldn`t be blaming India in a loose manner. We
should be able to put across our differences in a polite but
clear manner, and seek its resolution to the best of our
national interest," he said.
The comments came days after Prachanda said in a
programme in Kathmandu that India wants to make Bhattarai the
Nepal premier and has been "putting pressure" in this regard.
Bhattarai had then slammed the party supremo`s statement
and called it "an attempt to assassinate my character."
PTI
