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India hails recall of parliament

      New Delhi: India on Tuesday welcomed the reinstatement of parliament in Nepal as the kingdom's embattled monarch finally gave in to months of violence and protests. The seven parties leading the anti-royalist agitation have named former Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala, 84, as the new head of government. This will be Koirala's fourth stint as Prime Minister. Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee said New Delhi would stand by Nepal as it moves to reconciliation and reconstruction. "We await the convening of the revived House of Representatives and the installation of government as indicated by the seven- party alliance. This is a victory for the people of Nepal who have displayed extraordinary courage and affirmed their faith and commitment to freedom and democracy. The future of Nepal is safe in their hands," Mukherjee told reporters here. "We are conscious of the challenges that lie ahead for Nepal as it embarks on the journey toward restoring political stability, achieving economic recovery and finding a peaceful solution to the armed conflict. These challenges will require the positive contribution of all concerned drawing upon the support of the people of Nepal. As a close friend and neighbour India has all along stood by the people of Nepal in their unrelenting struggle for the restoration of their democratic rights We are ready to render unstinted support to the people of Nepal in whatever manner they wish," he added.

    Mukherjee allayed the fears saying it was too early to prejudge. "So many things will develop in course of time, let us not prejudge all these things. Now there is twelve-point understanding between the Maoists and the seven party alliance political alliance. How things will unfold, what will be the ultimate outcome it will be too difficult to say right at this level," he said.

Informal Cabinet meeting cancelled

     New Delhi: An informal meeting of the Cabinet, which was scheduled to be held today to review the situation in Nepal, was cancelled due to the changing situation in the Himalayan kingdom The meeting, which was to be chaired by Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee in the absence of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh who is on a forign visit, was cancelled in the wake of the King Gyanendra's decision to reinstate the kingdom's dissolved Parliament. India has welcomed King Gyanendra's announcement to reinstate the kingdom's dissolved Parliament and hoped that an interim government would be in place in the Himalayan kingdom in a day or two. Meanwhile, Mukherjee will be meeting top officials from the Armed Forces to review the development in the landlocked Himalayan country.