We are for democracy in Nepal: Saran

Stressing India’s preference for dealing with a democracy in Nepal rather than a monarchy, Foreign Secretary Shyam Saran said today visits by Indian leaders to Kathmandu would be considered if the semblance of stability was a direct implication.

‘‘If we think that visits will help stabilise the situation, we will not shy away…Detraction from democracy does not provide the answer to Nepal’s internal problems, and this is what the Indian Government is trying to get across to Nepal’s monarch,’’ said Saran. Saran stressed that the Ministry for External Affairs was engaged in the formulation of a comprehensive neighbourhood policy, to make more intelligent the Government’s responses to incidents like King Gyanendra’s dissolution of government.

‘‘We wish to reassure neighbours that we recognise their sovereignty. We must exorcise the ghosts from the past and unleash our collective energies,” Saran added.