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India can't afford a failed Nepal: PM
by I.Ramamohan Rao

      Onboard Air India One: Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh today said that India's role in Nepal is limited to ensuring the return of multi-party democracy and constitutional democracy. Interacting with press persons onboard Air India One en route to Hannover, Dr. Singh said: "Our role is to ensure that all elements of political democracy, Constitutional monarchy and multi-party democracy are in place in Nepal. We cannot afford Nepal to be a failed state. Dr. Singh also welcomed King Gyanendra's announcement on Thursday to hand over power to the seven-party alliance, describing it as a step in the "right direction". He said the King's announcement had initiated the process for formation of a government in Nepal which exercises all executive powers. "By and large, whatever steps the King has made, they are in the right direction," Dr. Singh told reporters accompanying him on his five-day visit to Germany and Uzbekistan. Singh said that it was important that multi-party democracy should be restored in Nepal and "there should be a government in place which exercises all the executive powers. The process has begun." In reply to a question, Dr. Singh said: "Whatever, we cannot afford to have Nepal as a failed state... I'm not saying Nepal is a failed state." "We have to help Nepal to deal with difficulties they have got into," the Prime Minister said. "Our role is that of a conciliator to ensure that democratic process is restored ...Our role is to ensure that all elements of Nepalese polity are talking to each other. Now, I hope the King and political parties will talk about future consequential steps." Singh said India has a position that the Constitutional monarchy and multi-party democracy are two pillars of Nepalese polity and there is no change in the stand.

India's support for democracy in Nepal

      New Delhi: Foreign Secretary Shyam Saran on Saturday told mediapersons here that India is committed to helping the people of Nepal get back to a multi-party democratic system that existed before February 1, 2005. Lauding the people of Nepal for keeping their faith in democracy and freedom, Saran told the media here that his visit to Kathmandu earlier this week along with the Prime Minister's Special envoy, Dr. Karan Singh, was specifically aimed at informing King Gyanendra about India's assessment of the situation in the kingdom, and the need for the King to be aware of the groundswell of opinion for restoration of democracy. He also described King Gyanendra's announcement on Thursday to hand over power to a seven-party alliance as a significant one, and added that it was eventually for the people of Nepal to decide how to get the process of their democratic rights restored. He reiterated India's commitment to assist the people of Nepal in their hour of need and to help the nation achieve political stability and economic recovery as early as possible. Saran's briefing to the media came hours after four persons were killed by Nepalese security forces near Kathmandu.

India offers assistance to crisis-hit Nepal

     New Delhi: Minister of State for External Affairs Anand Sharma has said that India is ready to provide all possible assistance to Nepal to ensure that it achieves political and economic stability at the earliest. In a statement issued soon after King Gyanendra's announcement of handing over power back to the seven-party political alliance, Sharma said that the people of Nepal have "undergone acute suffering and economic hardship during the last several months, but have always kept their faith with democracy and freedom. They deserve our respect and admiration." "We sincerely hope that the aspirations of the people of Nepal can now be addressed by enabling them to enjoy their rights through a democratic electoral exercise free from the threat of violence," the Minister added. He said that the King's reaffirmation for multi-party democracy and a constitutional monarchy, should now pave the way for the restoration of political stability and economic recovery of the kingdom.