NEW DELHI: India on Saturday said that it was for the people of Nepal to decide how the process of democratisation was to be taken forward and that New Delhi did not "accept or refuse" the proposal of King Gyanendra inviting the Seven Party Alliance (SPA) for transfer of executive power. "Don't take India's statement yesterday as acceptance or refusal of the King's proposal. We are saying that in principle the power should be handed over from the monarchy to the people of Nepal," Foreign Secretary Shyam Saran said at a news conference here.

The statement, he emphasised, did not imply that New Delhi was taking sides.

Clarifying India's position on the twin pillars of constitutional monarchy and multi-party democracy, Mr. Saran said it was "nothing more than what the people of Nepal and political parties had wanted at that time and anything more is up to the people of Nepal."

India on Friday welcomed the King's decision to transfer all executive powers to a Government constituted by an alliance of seven political parties that had led the charge to restore multi-party democracy.

Mr. Saran made it clear that how the situation moves forward was in the hands of the SPA and the people of Nepal and "not up to the Indian Government to decide."

India had all along supported restoration of multi-party democracy in Nepal and consistently supported democratic forces, he said. He recalled that India had condemned the King's dismissal of the civilian government on February 1, 2005 and also suspended arms supply to the country.

Silent on roadmap

The Foreign Secretary did not offer any comment when asked about India's stand on the roadmap for restoration of democracy put forward by the SPA on Saturday.

He said the sentiments of the people of Nepal and their desire for early restoration of democracy was something that everyone should respect.

On the role of Maoists in the evolving situation, he said if they came into the political mainstream it must be based on multi-party democracy and renunciation of violence.

On the holding up of essential goods on the border, he said, that for the last several days long lines of cargo and vehicles were held up on the Indian side. The Government would try and facilitate movement into Nepal as soon as conditions permitted.

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