New Delhi, May 16
India today threw its weight behind Nepalese political parties by welcoming the coming together of seven of them and forming a joint front to strive for the restoration of multi-party democracy in the Hindu Kingdom.
The Indian move also signalled that Nepal’s King Gyanendra was still not ready to re-establish contact with the political parties aimed at the larger case of national reconciliation. However, indications available at the South Block here are that the king would blink first and, if not at his own level, he would ask some of his ministers in the near future to get in touch with the political parties.
The Ministry of External Affairs took note of the fact that the seven Nepalese political parties, which have come together and announced the common programme to address the challenges facing Nepal, together represent nearly 95 per cent of the dissolved Pratinidhi Sabha (parliament). This is the first time ever in the history of Nepal that political parties, which have always indulged in dog-fights against one another, have come together, adopted a common minimum programme and even announced a road map ahead of them.
The development has not gone unnoticed by the Maoist leader, Prachanda, who has welcomed the coming together of the political parties.
The MEA stand on the recent developments in Nepal is that the common programme underlines the key goals of restoration of multi-party democracy and resolving the violent conflict in Nepal. The programme represents a good basis for discussion and commencement of a dialogue between political parties and the monarchy and presents a road map with detailed steps required to attain these objectives.
In response to a question, an official spokesperson said: “It has been the consistent view of the Government of India that a broad national consensus amongst the constitutional forces is necessary to address the country’s problems, including the insurgency. The Government of India will support all efforts aimed at restoring political stability and economic prosperity in Nepal.”
Former Prime Minister and Nepali Congress (NC) president Girija Prasad Koirala yesterday urged the king and others to come clear on how they expected to achieve “the national reconciliation given the continued lack of necessary efforts.” Mr Koirala’s statement came a day after averments of Rastriya Janashakti Party
(RJP) chairman Surya Bahadur Thapa who had stressed the need for unity among the political forces for
comprehensive resolution.
