Maoist Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal announced the beginning of a “new relationship with India” following a meeting with visiting Indian Minister of External Affairs SM Krishna on Sunday. The meeting held special importance since it occurred amid an increasingly strident Maoist campaign for ‘national independence’. Krishna expressed worries that the campaign would hurt bilateral relations. The Kathmandu Post reports:

In a Ministry of External Affairs statement, Krishna expressed, “his deep disappointment at the baseless attacks on India by the Maoist leadership which vitiate the age-old and time-tested friendly relations between India and Nepal, and the people of the two countries. “

Dahal’s response? Here’s Republica:

[Dahal explained] the party doesn’t want to strain bilateral relations, and argued for a new relationship on the basis of political change in Nepal and as per the aspirations of the people.

Dahal said he also took up a host of bilateral issues included border “encroachment”, “unequal treaties”,developing ew economic relationship, peace process and constitution writing in the meeting.

Although he claims not to have raised the issue of government change, he did tell Krishna that the government lacks popular support.

UNMIN Chief Karin Landgren is hopeful of the peace process but warns that some hurdles remain. She added that the HLPM is a welcome boost. The Himalayan Times reports:

She also stated that the Maoists restarting the act of grabbing private and public plots of land like during the conflict days and criminal activities of armed groups in the Tarai districts were threatening the peace process.

Despite opposition from UML CA members,the Committee to Determine Forms of Governance of State has endorsed its preliminary draft and concept paper. The draft, however, is incomplete since the Big Three and TMLP couldn’t agree on the “modalities of governance structure and electoral system.” Kathmandu Post reports:

It has proposed bicameral legislature with a Lower House-elected through first past the post electoral system and Upper House elected through proportional electoral system.