New Delhi
1 April 2006
India must formulate a clear policy on Nepal instead of vacillating or
oscillating between the monarchy and the political parties, according to certain Nepalese
pro-democracy activists and organisations. They criticised the United States for "keeping
the monarchy alive" and for suggesting that the political parties distance themselves
from the Maoists.
The organisations, which claim to represent over five lakh Nepalese people living in
Delhi and elsewhere in the country, on Saturday floated an Anti-Monarchy United
Democratic Front to press for a republican democracy in the Himalayan kingdom.
On the occasion, Mr Laxman Pant, president of the central committee of Nepali
Janadhikar Suraksha Samiti Bharat, said there was "confusion" in New Delhi's policy
towards Nepal. One day India supports the monarchy, another day she supports the
political parties, Mr Pant observed, and appealed the Government of India to formulate a
"clear cut policy" and to "side with the people".
Criticising the role of the United States, Mr Pant said the American envoy to Kathmandu
had "threatened" the political parties against siding with the Maoists. "Conspiracies
were hatched to scuttle the renewal of of the 12-point understanding reached between the
seven-party alliance and the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoists) on March 19 this year,"
he said.
"The United States," he said, "is keeping the monarchy alive."
Mr Pant and others who represent organisations such as Nepali Jan Sampark Samiti,
Prabashi Nepali Sangh, Nepali Jana Adhikar Surakchhya Samiti, Loktantrik Andolan
Sahayog Samiti, Nepali Jajakalyan Samiti and Nepal Terai Democratic Front said the
newly formed Anti-Monarchy United Democratic Front would be pressing for republican
democracy.
Republican democracy, they explained, stood for democracy without monarchy, "based
on parliament and periodic elections".
No comments:
Post a Comment