India never interfered in Nepal’s political affairs: K.P. Oli

In a bid to clear his anti-India image former Prime Minister and CPN-UML chairperson K.P. Oli has said that “India should not be dragged into controversy over Prime Minister Prachanda’s recent statement.”

“India is well aware that interfering in the government formation in Nepal would be a violation of Nepal’s sovereignty and it has not done and will not do so,” Oli said while addressing a prograrmme organized by UML’s student wing in Kathmandu on Friday.

Oli also claimed that Indian businessman Pritam Singh rejected the statement that he had traveled to Delhi time and again to make Prachanda Prime Minister. “I have not gone to Delhi to make Prachanda Prime Minister,” Oli quoted Singh as saying. “I don’t know why the Prime Minister is telling this, but I never visited Delhi to make him Prime Minister,” Singh told a press conference, according to Oli. But the Prime Minister is telling a lie, he added.

“Friendly country India has never said till now that it will facilitate government formation in Nepal,” Oli pointed out. “India knows very well that to say so is against Nepal’s sovereignty.”

“India never says so but our Prime Minister is saying that Nepal’s sovereignty doesn’t lie in the Nepali people or the Parliament and government is not formed by the Parliament but it will be made by running to Delhi,” Oli accused. “Men had run to Delhi for several times to make me Prime Minister, Prachanda said, according to Oli. THe Prime Minister’s statement was a blow to our national sovereignty and nationalism, he added.

UML chief Oli has also expressed the party’s willingness to hold in talks with the ruling parties to address the current issues in the country.

In his address to the All Nepal National Free Students Union (ANNFSU) Nepal 10th National Gathering in Kritipur on Friday, the former Prime Minister said his party was ready to hold dialogues with the ruling side, centering on existing problems facing the nation. The UML has been obstructing the Parliament proceedings for the last three days over the Prachanda’s recent statement.

“The ruling side wherever- be it in the parliament or outside it invites us for the talks, we are open to joining,” he said.