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http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/1499543.cms

India ready to give neighbour a helping hand

NEW DELHI: Along with supporting Nepal ruler Gyanendra, the Indian government has handed out unreserved kudos to the people of Nepal. "The people of Nepal have undergone acute suffering and economic hardship during the last several months, but have always kept their faith with democracy and freedom.

They deserve our respect and admiration," an MEA spokesperson said. The Indian response evolved after the king met the Indian ambassador Shiv Shankar Mukherjee in Kathmandu on Friday morning to give him the details of his proposed statement.

This formed part of a high level discussion between Prime Minister, national security adviser M K Narayanan, foreign secretary Shyam Saran and PM's special envoy Karan Singh.

It was decided that since the king had walked some distance, India would now support his actions. Opposition leader Jaswant Singh, who is due to travel to Nepal on Monday, also went on record to say that the agitations should now stop.

He was briefed by Saran on the discussions in Nepal over the past couple of days. There have been reports of rejection of the king's offer by the parties in Nepal, but government sources here felt saner counsel would prevail.

The interim government, when it is formed can, with its executive powers, reconvene Parliament or set up a constituent assembly and call for fresh elections.

The new government should also have the powers to negotiate with Maoists, though each of these powers will be hard fought victories, because it is likely that the king may insert many riders to dilute his offer.

The initial reactions also seem to suggest that the Maoists too may not reject the king's offer out of hand; instead wait for developments to evolve. The next step is for the parties to select a PM — India will certainly push them towards a quick decision.

Once an interim government has been announced, a timetable for elections will be next on the agenda. On Friday the MEA said, "The aspirations of the people of Nepal can now be addressed by enabling them to enjoy their rights through a democratic electoral exercise free from the threat of violence."

Once a government has taken over, India will formally announce a comprehensive economic package to pull Nepal out of its economic morass.

India, said the MEA spokesperson, "now stands ready to render all possible assistance to enable Nepal to achieve political stability and economic recovery at the earliest possible date."

India, having rolled up its sleeves and entered Nepal's political labyrinth, will now stay deeply engaged. The parties will be persuaded to take advantage of the king's offer and press home their high ground.

The Maoists will be persuaded to stay quiet through the period of transition and the international pressure will now build up on the Maoists to disarm and become a part of mainstream politics.

This transition too will have to be managed. The king will have to be persuaded to stay the course, with the assurance that the monarchy will remain only constitutional.

The royal Nepal army may technically be with the king, but Indian sources said, they now know that their equipment and technology lifelines would be retained only if they weighed in on the side of multi-party democracy.