Thursday, May 26 2005 19:30 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: Dismissing reports that Indian security agencies had arranged a meeting between a top Maoist leader and CPM (Communist Party of India-Marxist) General Secretary Prakash Karat, India today (May 26, 2005) said there was no change in its policy with regard to the Maoists.

"There is no change in respect of our policy with regard to the CPN (Maoists). We unequivocally condemn their terrorist and violent activities that have caused enormous suffering to the people of Nepal," External Affairs Ministry spokesman Navtej Sarna told reporters in New Delhi. "It is our conviction that that there is no purely military solution to the Maoist insurgency," he stressed.

He said durable peace and stability in Nepal could only be achieved through a political settlement, which, among other things, requires the Maoists to forswear armed struggle and lay down their arms.

India, he said, was committed to supporting all efforts at restoring peace, political stability and economic prosperity in Nepal.

Asked about reports that security agencies had arranged for a meeting between Maoist leader Baburam Bhattarai and Karat, the spokesman referred to the press statement issued by the CPM leader who termed as "untrue" the news report that he had met the Maoist leader from Nepal in a meeting arranged by Indian security agencies.