New Delhi
20 April 2006
Having lobbed the ball in the King's court, India on Thursday said
she will "wait for a response" from King Gyanendra as Prime Minister Manmohan
Singh's special envoy Dr Karan Singh wrapped up his Kathmandu visit to return home.
Dr Karan Singh, who delivered the Prime Minister's letter to the monarch when he called
on him at the Narayanhity Palace in the morning, is expected to report to the Prime
Minister on Friday as senior BJP leader Jaswant Singh readies to visit Nepal for three
days beginning April 24.
"I am optimistic. I am hopeful that the King will make an announcement shortly. The ball
is in the King's court," he told reporters at the New Delhi airport in the evening. India, he
reiterated, was for democracy and restoration of multi-party democracy.
Talking to reporters at his residence, Dr Singh said he had had a "good meeting" with
King Gyanendra. They met over lunch when, Dr Singh observed, he not only conveyed
India's assessment but also shared "my own views" with the King during a "one-on-one"
interaction later.
"I found him receptive," he recalled and looked forward to "what steps he takes". "We
will wait and see," he added for good measure but cautioned that "events were
overtaking us" and the "violence has come at a bad time".
Referring to the violent protests by pro-democracy activists and the strike called by the
seven-party alliance, Dr Singh said, "I hope [this] does not derail the process ... [The
protests] are building up and reaching a crescendo."
"We feel concerned over the difficulties of the people -- economic and political -- and the
breakdown of the law and order. [The King] is the head of the state. He has to play a
positive role. I hope he will play a positive role," he observed.
Before the audience with the King, Dr Karan Singh and Foreign Secretary Shyam Saran
met with former Nepalese premier Surya Bahadur Thapa. On Wednesday, he met with
Girija Prasad Koirala, Mr Sher Singh Deuba and Mr Madhav Nepal of CPN(UML).
In a statement, the Embassy of India in Kathmandu said, "In his interactions, the special
envoy has stressed the need for genuine dialogue between the constitutional forces in
Nepal, with the objective of urgently restoring multiparty democracy in the country in
order to overcome the crisis that Nepal is faced with. He has conveyed India's readiness
to support all efforts towards this end while emphasising that a lasting solution to the
problems of Nepal has to be found by the people of Nepal through a peaceful political
process."
In New Delhi, the spokesman of the Ministry of External Affairs told reporters that it was
for the people of Nepal to find a "lasting solution" to the crisis but reiterated India's
support to the attempts for restoration of multi-party democracy.
The visit of the Special Envoy took place in the backdrop of the current political
developments in Nepal, which have been a cause of deep concern to India and other
members of the international community.
Meanwhile, a former external affairs minister, Mr Jaswant Singh, would be visiting Nepal
for three days begining April 24. Mr Singh would be visiting Nepal on the invitation of
the King Gyanendra. He would be meeting the King and other political leaders during the
visit, which comes close on the heels of the visit by India's sepcial envoy, Mr Karan
Singh, and Foreign Secretary Shyam Saran.
It can be mentioned that the BJP has been consistently supporting constitutional
monarchy with multi-party democracy in the world's only Hindu kingdom. The BJP has
also been demanding that the India provide military assistance to Nepal to counter
Maoists. The Sangh Parivar had also been a supporter of monarchy. For the Sangh
Parivar, the monarch was the sole "guarantor for maintaining the the Himalayan state's
Hindu identity."
However, a section felt that with kind of situation prevailing in Nepal and the political
parties pressing for "democracy", what kind signals would these proposed visit send
out. Questions were being asked on whether Mr Singh would continue toe the party
stand to support the "constitutional monarchy" or demand restoration of democracy.
Incidentally the Indian government, which wants the Nepal king to restore democracy
has dropped the twin pillar concept of Constitutional monarchy with multi-party
democracy.
It was learnt that Mr Singh has spoke to the Mr Shyam Saran last Friday, saying that he
had invited as a "state guest" by the King.
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