Prachanda shows his softer side

NEW DELHI: Shorn of diplomatic protocol, Nepal Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal's brush with the full spectrum of Indian politicians on Tuesday indicated that the guerrilla-turned-democrat could do well to drop his party name 'Prachanda' ��� 'the fierce one' ��� because he hardly sounded like one.
Even otherwise, the repeated reference to him as 'Shri Prachanda Ji' sounded outlandish considering that his formal name reminded people of a delicate lotus.Prachanda fitted that bill, making it hard to think of him as the leader of an armed struggle that swept through India's neighbourhood for over a decade before it finished monarchy through one massive upsurge.
"I'm turning emotional. The years that I spent in India made me understand its people and history. India has a big role to play in the new democratic experiment started in Nepal," Prachanda, 53, said at a luncheon hosted by Indo-Nepal Parliamentary Friendship Forum.
Else, leaders like Somnath Chatterjee, I K Gujral, Sharad Pawar, Murli Manohar Joshi, Mulayam Singh Yadav, Prakash Karat, Digvijay Singh, Nitish Kumar and Sharad Yadav would have hardly got a chance to come together and hail what Prachanda now stands for.
The politicians present on the occasion were happy with his candid admission that the foundation of Nepal's peace process was laid in India.
"Our relations (with India) have always been special and sweet, rarely seen in the world. What we now favour is the initiation of a new continuity. I understand the security concerns of India and Nepal. A peaceful, prosperous and stable Nepal is in India's interest," Prachanda said.
Prachanda's other wish to generate 10,000 MW of hydro power in Nepal in 10 years was the hint that Bihar CM Nitish Kumar, facing the uphill task of rebuilding the Kosi-ravaged regions and find a lasting solution to the recurring floods, picked up with vigour.