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India on Tuesday extended its support to Kathmandu for the steps taken by it to maintain peace and security in Nepal in the wake of large scale Maoist violence, claiming over 250 lives.
"The Government of India strongly condemns the widespread violent attacks by Maoists after unilaterally withdrawing from negotiations," an external affairs ministry spokesperson told reporters.
"We extend our support to the Nepal government for the steps taken by it to maintain peace and security in the country," she said, adding that the declaration of emergency in the country "is in our view, a necessary step by a democratic government to preserve order ".
Observing that many lives had been lost in the attacks, she said, "India has consistently opposed use of violence for gaining political and ideological objectives."
New Delhi's reaction came close on the heels of Nepalese Premier Sher Bahadur Deuba speaking to Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee on Monday night to brief him on the developments leading to the imposition of emergency.
Nepalese Ambassador to India Bhekh B Thapa, who called on External Affairs Minister Jaswant Singh on Tuesday evening, said that he had explained the circumstances under which the Nepalese government had resorted to proclaiming emergency.
"It was not a matter of first choice but it was a compulsion," he said.
Asked whether he sought special assistance from New Delhi in dealing with the situation in Nepal, Thapa said the purpose of his visit was only to apprise the Indian leadership about the situation in his country. "It is primarily Nepal's internal problem and we need to contain the situation."
The MEA spokesperson said, "We remain convinced that constitutional monarchy and multiparty democracy in Nepal are the two pillars that provide the necessary space to accommodate divergent political opinions in the political process."
PTI
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