"Maoist rebels are not anti-monarch in Nepal, but are anti-government and they have planned to create a revolutionary zone with the help of the ultras active in Andhra Pradesh, Orissa and Coochbehar districts of West Bengal," outgoing Nepalese consul general in Kolkata Yuba Raj told West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadev Bhattacharjee at Writers' Buildings in Kolkata.

India to upgrade Nepal's security apparatus

Without elaborating on this, the consul general said his government had initiated preparations for talks with the radicals who had sent a six-point charter of demands to the Nepal government. "Their demands also relate to the constituent Assembly and the interim government of Nepal," he said.

He said Maoist activities were a common problem to both Nepal and India, particularly West Bengal, and for this, both the governments were in constant touch.

Allaying apprehensions that the rebels would target Indian tourists who were planning to visit the Himalayan kingdom during the Durga Puja festival, he said "rebels are not against tourists and there are no instances that tourists have been attacked or killed in Nepal," he said.

Yuba Raj would be replaced by Gobinda Kusum as the next consul-general of Nepal in Kolkata.