Kathmandu, July 28: Amid the Maoist blockade of the Nepalese parliament over the issue of arms import from India, Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal today said his government has no plans to seek lethal weapons from New Delhi. The Prime Minister issued the statement in the Parliament after the Maoists blocked the Parliament session on Sunday and yesterday over the issue of reported arms import from India.
The Prime Minister also said his cabinet has not taken any decision to import arms from India. After the Prime Minister”s clarification the stalled Parliament session resumed today.
India had supplied arms and ammunition to Nepal to fight the Maoist insurgents in the past on 30 per cent cash and 70 per cent subsidy basis. But after Gyanendra assumed absolute power in February 2005, India halted the supply of lethal weapons.
However, there were reports that Defence Minister Vidya Bhandari told media prior to her departure for Delhi that she would ask India to resume arms supply from India. The Maoists have said that the resumption of such arms will violate the Comprehensive Peace Agreement and it would also derail the on going peace process.
The Maoists had blocked the Parliament session for two consecutive days over the issue demanding clarification from the Prime Minister in the matter. .
—-PTI–