In a sensational claim, former Prime Minister and Maoist chief Pushpa Kamal Dahal has said that the India-US axis wanted to launch anti-China activities, even a possible attack on China, using Nepali territory.

“I had to quit as Prime Minister as my party was opposed to letting our territory used against China”, Prachanda said while addressing a training programme of the Maoist cadres yesterday, according to the Rajdhani daily.

It quoted Prachanda as having said: “The US-India plan had to face challenge from our party and that triggered the conspiracy against my government.”

Prachanda resigned on May 4 in protest against President Rambaran Yadav reinstating Army Chief R Katawal, within hours of his being sacked by the Prime Minister unilaterally, on the charge of insubordination and violating the principle of civilian supremacy.

“A senior Indian professor revealed this design to me”, Prachanda said but did not name him. “He (professor) told me all this after I made it clear to him that Nepal will pursue a policy of equal proximity with both neighbours India and China”, Rajdhani quoted him as having said. Prachanda also claimed that the India-US “conspiracy” against his government began soon after he chose to visit China before visiting New Delhi on his assuming the office of the Prime Minister. He attributed this “information” to the unnamed Indian professor.

He said India was pressuring “us” to sign many agreements against Nepali interests and that was the reason why the south went “against us.” Prachanda claimed that the US was set to impose yet another costly war in the region using Nepali territory.