The Hindu : National : India backs steps to restore democracy in Nepal

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Thursday, Jun 09, 2005

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India backs steps to restore democracy in Nepal

Diplomatic Correspondent

Natwar Singh meets Koirala "King of Nepal cannot be an activist or executive monarch and will have to stick to his role of being a constitutional head of State."

NEW DELHI: External Affairs Minister Natwar Singh met Nepali Congress chief Girija Prasad Koirala at South Block on Wednesday and held talks on the situation in Nepal and its implications for both countries.

An External Affairs Ministry spokesman said that Mr. Singh conveyed India's "strong support" for all efforts aimed at restoring multi-party democracy and constitutional monarchy. Mr. Singh said that as a first step, a process of national reconciliation and dialogue should begin. "[The] External Affairs Minister reiterated our conviction that the multi-dimensional and complex challenges facing Nepal can only be addressed by forging a broad national consensus on an eventual political settlement," the spokesman said.

The spokesman said that Mr. Koirala told Mr. Singh about the common agenda and roadmap prepared by seven political parties. "[The] External Affairs Minister welcomed this initiative which, he said, provides a good basis for a dialogue."

Senior Government officials told mediapersons that the King of Nepal could not be an "activist" or "executive" monarch and would have to stick to his role of being a "constitutional" head of State.

Maoists' issue

Stressing that it was important for the Maoists to be brought into the mainstream of Nepal politics, the officials stated that the steps taken by the Gyanendra regime since February 1 had not helped restore democracy or the process of economic development.

The officials said that the military impasse had not changed in any way. A growing number of Nepalese were making their way into India.

"The number of people streaming into [India's] border States is increasing," the officials said. Many villages in the far west of Nepal were without people.

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