Nepal Maoists admit links with Indian Naxals

After months of being in denial mode, Nepalese Maoists have come out openly extending "full support and cooperation" to the Naxalites in India, days after Home Minister P Chidambram mentioned about a possible arms supply from them.

Admitting that exchanges have been taking places between the Maoists and the Indian Naxals, a senior Standing Committee member of the Unified Communist Party of Nepal-Maoist C P Gajurel was quoted on Tuesday by the daily newspaper Rajdhani as saying, "We have extended our full support and cooperation to the Indian Maoists, who are launching armed revolt."

Talking to pro-Maoist journalists in Bara district of southern Nepal on Sunday, Gajurel, however, did not elaborate on what kind of support they have extended to the Naxals.

The statement came shortly after Indian Home Minister P Chidambaram mentioned about the possible arms supply from Nepalese Maoists to the Naxals in India.

The same newspaper had earlier carried a report that a Maoist leader had met Indian Maoist leader Kishenji in an undisclosed place in October. However, when contacted for his comment, Gajurel avoided a direct answer and said that his party did not oppose the movement being launched by the Indian Maoists.

"They are doing what they think is right," he said.

"They are launching their movement in India and we are launching ours here, there is no need to oppose the movement launched by the Indian Maoists," he pointed out.