Delhi message for Gyanendra: Retrace, we will help bring rebels to table

With the economic blockade by Maoists beginning to hurt Nepal, New Delhi has indicated to Kathmandu that it’s ready to facilitate talks...

With the economic blockade by Maoists beginning to hurt Nepal, New Delhi has indicated to Kathmandu that it’s ready to facilitate talks between Left wing extremists and King Gyanendra’s government provided the monarch takes steps to eventually restore multi-party democracy in his country.

Tuning its position on Nepal Maoists, the UPA government is now not averse to opening back-channels with the rebels. New Delhi wants to check their cross-border movement into India and nudge Prachanda’s men towards the negotiating table in Nepal.

Indian Ambassador to Nepal S S Mukherjee, who returned to Kathmandu yesterday, is yet to seek an audience with the King but he has been given clear instructions by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Foreign Minister Natwar Singh and Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee to convey that the ban on political activity will have to go.

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During Mukherjee’s meeting with the Prime Minister last Friday, Manmohan Singh backed the revival of multi-party democracy.

At the same time, the PM made it clear that India considered constitutional monarchy very important for Nepal’s stability.

British Ambassador Keith Bloomfield and US Ambassador James Moriarty, also called back, have not yet returned to Kathmandu.

The situation in Nepal has been deteriorating: the Tribhuvan Highway from Birganj to Kathmandu has been blocked at various points by Maoists since February 13.

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Reports indicate that the number of trucks on the highway have dropped from a daily average of 1,200 to less than 200.

	Maoists gun down Indian truck driver

			• KATHMANDU: Nripad Kumar Parveji, a truck driver from Nagpur, was shot dead by Maoists for defying the 9-day-old economic blockade in Nepal. The shooting took place at Charaudi Bazaar on the Prithvi Highway.

The situation is the same on the Arniko Highway to Lhasa. Sources in Kathmandu said prices of essential commodities have gone up with the Maoists showing no signs of relenting.

But New Delhi, together with Washington and London, has been working on an honourable exit strategy for the monarch.

Political parties have been approached to ensure there is no pressure on the King if he allows political activity.

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One of the options being considered is that the King goes on television to announce convening of a multi-party conference to chart out a political road map.

Direct rule will be justified as necessary for strengthening the political system.

In this context, the latest written statement of arrested Nepali Congress patriarch G P Koirala is significant: He has asked all political parties to join hands.

Last week, Mukherjee also held discussions with Nepal’s political leaders in Delhi who indicated that they would join hands and were not averse to the idea of letting the King continue as head of state.

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