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Nepal arms embargo should continue: India delegation

Source: PTI
September 30, 2005 16:56 IST
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India should continue arms embargo on Nepal to pressurise King Gyanendra to restore multiparty democracy in the Himalayan Kingdom, according to visiting Indian political leaders. All the political parties represented in the visiting Indian delegation were of the view that arms supply to Nepal should not continue, Communist Party (Marxist) politburo member Sitaram Yechuri said at a press conference in kathmandu on Friday.

"We have already told the government of India about this," he said at the conclusion of the five-party delegation's three-day visit to Nepal. He also denied allegations by the Nepalese authorities that they are interfering in the internal affairs of the kingdom.

"We are here not to interfere in internal affairs of Nepal, but to extend solidarity and moral support to the Nepalese people's movement for restoration of democracy.

"If extending moral support to democracy is interference in internal affairs, then why were Vishwa Hindu Parishad and Shiva Sena chiefs' remarks supporting the February 1 royal takeover not an interference?" He asked.

Yechuri said the Indian government has recognised multiparty democracy and constitutional monarchy as two pillars of Nepal's democracy and any deviation from that will not be in the interest of Nepal. Replying to a question, he said it is upto the political parties here how they will talk to the Maoists and the King.

CPI's D Raja also said, "It is upto the Nepalese people to decide what type of democratic system they prefer and what type of a constitution they want to draft, but our concern is only to extend solidarity and support.

"We have come here at the invitation of the seven-party alliance, we met several leaders and human rights activists and we are confident that Nepal will succeed in restoring democracy very soon," he said.

Stating that democracy is the primary requirement of any civilised society irrespective of geographical location, he said, "We are here to extend our support to the movement for restoring democracy."

Congress member Chandrasekhar Sahu said, "We are here as a fact-finding mission and we have come to understand what actually is going on in Nepal. I will appraise my party president Sonia Gandhi of the situation after returning home." Since late Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru's time till today, the Indian National Congress has always been in favour of democracy in Nepal, he said.

"We will fully support a democratic set up which is decided by the Nepalese people," he said. "Our visit is not only an informative one but also an educative one as we have learnt many things during interaction with various political parties," Sahu said.

Upon its arrival at the airport here three days ago, the Indian delegation was greeted by stone-pelting and black flag demonstration by a group of pro-monarchists.

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