Amidst confusing reports regarding his participation in an international ‘leadership summit’ to be organised by a leading Indian national daily in New Delhi, Maoist supremo Prachanda has finally decided to visit the Indian capital.

At a press meeting organised by the Newa National Liberation Front, a Maoist wing, at the Maoist contact office in Kupandole, Kathmandu, on Thursday, Maoist leaders said chairman Prachanda would attend the summit “India: The Next Global Superpower?” slated for November 17-18, which will be hosted by The Hindustan Times daily.

They said senior Maoist Dr Baburam Bhattarai would accompany Prachanda to New Delhi.

The Hindustan Times had invited Prachanda as a speaker at the summit which will be attended by 23 prominent international figures including Indian Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh, Congress (I) president Sonia Gandhi, Afghan president Hamid Karzai, former British foreign secretary Jack Straw, former Malaysian prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohammad, former New York mayor Rudolf Guilliani and a host of personalities representing different fields.

Over the last few days, media reports in Kathmandu said quoting Maoist leaders that Prachanda would not be attending the conference in New Delhi due to security reasons and the prevailing political situation in Nepal.

Prachanda had met with Indian ambassador Shiv Shankar Mukherjee at the Indian Embassy in Kathmandu on Tuesday and discussed the ongoing peace process in Nepal. At the meeting, Prachanda also urged the Indian envoy to ensure the release of Maoist leaders detained in Indian jails and the latter assured to help secure their release, according to reports.

Maoist central leaders Mohan Baidya and CP Gajurel and few others have been languishing in various Indian jails for some time now.