The Hindu : National : Gyanendra's aide meets Shyam Saran

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Feb 28, 2005

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National

Gyanendra's aide meets Shyam Saran

NEW DELHI, FEB. 27. On a mission here to clear the air of ``misapprehensions'' nursed by the Indian Government, a close aide of King Gyanendra today met the Foreign Secretary, Shyam Saran, and briefed him on the situation in Nepal.

Sharad Chandra Shah, who came here to attend the India Today conclave, used the occasion for an informal meeting with Mr. Saran, who was India's Ambassador in Kathmandu before being appointed Foreign Secretary. Mr. Shah also met BJP leaders.

Mr. Saran is understood to have explained India's position and the need for immediate restoration of the democratic process in Nepal.

Mr. Shah's visit comes within days of India making public that it had suspended military aid to Nepal since February 1 when the King seized power and imposed emergency in the country. Both the Nepalese Embassy here and the Government said there was nothing official about the visit.

Serious setback

Kathmandu wanted New Delhi to show ``greater understanding'' to its sensitivities. It contended that King Gyanendra, who has emphatically stated that he stood by multi-party democracy, needed some time to overcome the difficult period to restore the democratic process. King Gyanendra's decision to sack the Deuba Government and declare emergency evoked a strong reaction from the Indian Government, which said these developments constituted a ``serious setback'' to the cause of democracy.

India's caution

New Delhi has also cautioned that direct confrontation between the monarchy and the mainstream political parties could only benefit the forces that wished to undermine democracy as well as the institution of monarchy. India has consistently supported multi-party democracy and constitutional monarchy enshrined in Nepal's Constitution as the twin pillars of political stability in that country.

Kathmandu felt that New Delhi should have a better appreciation of the circumstances that led to the dissolution of the Nepalese Parliament in 2002 and the reasons why elections could not be held within the stipulated six-month period.

Polls not now

The Nepalese Government has contended that it was not feasible to hold elections in a short span. Nepalese leaders, who are camping in Indian cities, have demanded that a timeframe and a roadmap be clearly articulated for restoration of democracy in the Himalayan Kingdom. On India's concerns over the detention and house arrests of prominent Nepalese political leaders following clamping of emergency, Kathmandu has claimed that such persons were gradually being released. — PTI

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