Nepal Maoists accuse Indian envoy of spying on China

KATHMANDU: In a breach of diplomatic norms, Nepal���s former ruling party, the Maoists, Tuesday accused the Indian ambassador to Nepal, Rakesh Sood of spying on China, distorting his visit to a mountainous district bordering Tibet to inaugurate community welfare projects funded by the Indian government.
Sood had been on a visit to Mustang, Nepal���s northernmost district that was part of an ancient Tibetan kingdom in the past and shares a border with Tibet.In the past, after China invaded Tibet, the Buddhist kingdom���s Khampa soldiers loyal to the Dalai Lama had waged a guerrilla war against the Chinese rulers from Mustang.
Its proximity to Tibet makes upper Mustang a sensitive area where foreigners need a permit to travel. China remains anxious about Mustang and in the recent past, the Chinese ambassador to Nepal, Qiu Guhong, had also visited the district.
���A jumbo Indian team including envoy Rakesh Sood arrived in the mountainous district of Mustang Friday to spy on China in the name of inspecting the progress of the development projects funded by the Indian government,��� Nepali daily Janadisha, the Maoist mouthpiece, said Tuesday. It also said that the team was in Mustang to assess the influence of the Chinese government in the area.
However, contrary to the Maoist allegation, there was nothing opaque about the visit. Last week, the Indian Embassy in Kathmandu had issued a press statement, saying the Indian envoy would be in Mustang from Oct 8-16. During the visit, Sood handed over two newly constructed school buildings to the authorities of the Shree Jana Adarsh Secondary School in Kobang and Shree Jana Shanti Secondary School in Kagbeni, built at a cost of NRs.3.5 million.
On Monday, the ambassador handed over a newly constructed water tank for the Shree Mahakaruna Sakyapa Vidyalaya at Lomangthan in Upper Mustang to the local community. The school is among the oldest monastic schools and the government of India had earlier provided grant assistance of NRs.2.5 million for the school building, a hostel, a monks quarters and teachers��� quarters. India has now provided an additional grant of NRs.10.8 million for the construction of the water tank as part of the India-Nepal Economic Cooperation Programme. The programme, with an outlay over NRS 25600 million, runs more than 350 large and small projects countrywide in Nepal in the sectors of education, health and infrastructure development.
The ambassador, who was scheduled to go trekking in Mustang after the handover ceremonies, however cut his visit short and headed for Kathmandu Tuesday. It was not known immediately if his return was the fallout of the Maoist propaganda.
Nepal���s foreign ministry admitted the propaganda was against diplomatic norms but said they were helpless to stop it. The Maoists, despite having led the government for eight months, have kept up a siege on parliament for nearly four months with the government unable to resolve the impasse.