Amaresh calls himself a man Delhi trusts

At a meeting of Nepali Congress leaders in the Prime Ministers official residence at Baluatar two years ago,G P Koirala fumed: Who is this Amaresh Singh who claims to be the most important person in Nepal?....

At a meeting of Nepali Congress leaders in the Prime Ministers official residence at Baluatar two years ago,G P Koirala fumed: Who is this Amaresh Singh who claims to be the most important person in Nepal?

Singh,sitting among senior leaders of the party,heard that quietly and told the local press the next day that Koirala apologised to me later in his room.

Amaresh is the husband of Neetu Singh,a Nepali student of the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII),Pune,who was picked up by Pune Police on December 5 and deported on the charge of anti-national activities. A Chemistry teacher at Kathmandus Amrit Science college,he got a scholarship to do his Ph.D at Delhis Jawaharlal Nehru University in 2004courtesy the government of Indiabut established his connection and clout in Nepal politics at a rapid pace.

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He took leadersmainly from the Nepali Congressto Indian authorities dealing with Nepal when they went to Delhi to escape the wrath of the Kings regime that began in February 2005. Soon after the Kings surrender of power,Singh got easy access to politicians he had helped.

When the new government headed by G P Koirala took over in April 2006,he was among the regular hangers-on at the Prime Ministers official residence,telling his team what Delhi is up to. He used to be in constant contact with with Home Minister K P Situala,who not only provided him with police escort almost at par with ministers but attracted huge criticism from fellow politicians when Singhs presence was noticed at an official briefing of security chiefs to the Home Minister.

A fortnightly magazine printed a photographthat Madhav Nepal,much before he became Prime Minister,took on his mobile phoneshowing Singh with senior politicians at the Prime Ministers residence provoking media to ask who this mystery man is? In fact,Koiralas outburst followed this.

No one knows for sure the source of Singhs clout and status. The revival of the dissolved parliament,after the King handed over power,in April 2006 also saw Singhs emergence as a member of the House in the Congress quota.

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In some interviews,he said he was a man Delhiperceived as an all pervasive power in Nepals domestic politicstrusts.

It was around this time he married Neetu Singh who belongs to the same district (Sarlahi). It was on Amareshs recommendation that she got a scholarship to study in India.

Their wedding featured the who s who of Kathmandu. Key Maoist leaders Prachanda and Baburam Bhattarai spent substantial amount of time at the Armed Police club where the reception was hosted.

Amaresh lost the election to the constituent assembly held in April 2008,but his hold over the leaders Maoist chief,Bhattarai and the Nepali Congress remained undiminished. He still enjoys direct access to the President and Prachanda and Bhattarai has been seen visiting him at his rented house in Buddhanagar.