India lauds first step, now wants King to walk on

External Affairs Minister K Natwar Singh echoed similar views hoping this ‘‘first step’’ will pave the way for more such measures. ‘‘We, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and myself, had conveyed to King Gyanendra that political processes should be restored, political prisoners should be released, emergency should be lifted,’’ he recalled from the meetings on the margins of the Asian African Summit at Jakarta, adding that ‘‘Indian channels should be allowed to be aired and processes should be started which culminate in multi-party elections.’’

Earlier, MEA spokesperson said India wanted to see the release of all political leaders still in custody and the restoration of civil liberties, which could open the way for reconciliation between the two constitutional forces.

Meanwhile, Nepalese political leaders in India viewed the lifting of emergency with a degree of scepticism. Shekhar Koirala of Nepali Congress said one has to ‘‘wait and watch’’ as there was no word on ending restrictions and releasing political detenues. Rajender Mahato of Nepali Sadbhavna Party felt that the decision was a ‘‘mere show’’ under international pressure.

The spate of developments has prompted India to recall its Ambassador Shiv Shankar Mukherjee for consultations next week. He is slated to be here for five days starting Tuesday. With Washington planning to send Christina Rocca to Nepal in early May, Mukherjee’s briefing will be part of the process to chart out the course of action in the days ahead.