Indian Ambassador Shiv Mukherjee came back after meeting Nepal's King Gyanendra not quite sure how far to trust the monarch.
NEW DELHI: Indian Ambassador Shiv Mukherjee came back from his one on one meeting with Nepal's King Gyanendra on Sunday not quite sure how far to trust the monarch's promise to hand over power to political parties.
The foreign ministry was tightlipped about exactly what went on behind closed doors, except for describing the meeting as India's “continuing interaction'' with the Palace. Ambassador Mukherjee advised King Gyanendra to immediately initiate a dialogue with the political parties. New Delhi has been saying so since the King seized power 14 months ago, but so far it has fallen on deaf years.
India's patience with King Gyanendra is fast disappearing. Significantly India's last two statements on Nepal does not mention the normally mandatory lines about “multi-party democracy and constitutional monarchy as the twin pillars for peace and stability of Nepal.'' But, while closely monitoring the situation in Nepal, New Delhi had not yet publicly abandoned the King. That would probably come at a later stage, if the King continues to remain obdurate.
The squabbling of Nepal's political parties in the past, has made New Delhi cautious. Indian agencies are looking at possible scenarios that could emerge in Nepal, even as they cautiously watch King Gyanedra's promise to relent further.
On Sunday evening Prime Minister chaired a meeting to review the Nepal situation including the King's promise earlier in the day to Indian ambassador to Kathmandu Shiv Shankar Mukherjee that he would “relent” more. Sources said the King told him that he was willing to “hand over power” to political parties. The King also told the Indian envoy that he would involve political parties in the election process. But he did not specify what steps he would take to restore confidence in his actions.
Indian establishment, however, is not fully buying into the King's assurance. A section in New Delhi is suspicious that the King could be trying to split the Seven Party Alliance of Nepal.
There are already reliable inputs here that the King has already won over a few political leaders, including some from the Communist Party.
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