NEWSLINKS US EDITION SOUTH ASIA COLUMNISTS DIARY SPECIALS INTERVIEWS CAPITAL BUZZ REDIFF POLL DEAR REDIFF THE STATES ELECTIONS ARCHIVES US ARCHIVES SEARCH REDIFF
India on Monday pledged continued support to Nepal in its efforts to quell the Maoist insurgency and fight the menace of terrorism in the Himalayan kingdom.
India also reaffirmed its confidence that the joint efforts of all elements of the Nepalese polity would overcome the challenges posed by the insurgency while the constitutional monarchy and multi-party democracy would provide the stability necessary for it to become a prosperous nation.
King Gyanendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev of Nepal, who is on his first visit abroad after ascending the throne in Kathmandu amidst political turmoil, security crises and grave insurgency threats a year ago, described India's approach as an initiative to win hearts and minds.
An external affairs ministry spokeswoman released a copy of the speech delivered by President K R Narayanan at a banquet held in honour of the king and Queen Komal Rajyalakshmi Devi Shah on Sunday. The President said, "We have been much distressed by the mindless violence unleashed by the Maoists in the pursuit of extremist ideologies."
Asserting that violence could never be justified, Narayanan said, "India, which has been a victim of terrorist violence, believes that political aspirations can be best pursued peacefully, through the democratic process. Methods of terrorism endanger democratic and civilised society and retard the social and economic development of a country," he said.
The spokeswoman said the informal dinner hosted by Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee in honour of the Nepalese dignitaries on Sunday was a unique and special gesture underlining the excellent rapport, close friendship and understanding between the leaderships of the two countries.
Vajpayee and the king exchanged views on regional and international issues of mutual concern.
Pointing to the special importance attached by the government to the king's weeklong visit, the spokeswoman stressed India's desire to "further diversify" relations with Nepal whose geographic proximity and civilisational links make it a very special neighbour.
A large number of senior Cabinet ministers, including Lal Kishenchand Advani, Jaswant Singh, George Fernandes, Murli Manohar Joshi and Sushma Swaraj, will also call on the king.
Leader of the Opposition Sonia Gandhi and former prime ministers Chandra Shekhar, Inder Kumar Gujral and P V Narasimha Rao will also meet him.
The king will visit Kolkata and Guwahati before returning to Kathmandu on June 28. He is slated to visit China next month.
Although the king is a constitutional monarch, he is a hands-on ruler who takes a deep interest in his country's affairs. All bilateral issues of interest are likely to be discussed between the king and Indian leaders.
As commander-in-chief of the Nepalese armed forces, King Gyanendra has also been monitoring the current, forceful military drive against the Maoists. In dealing with the insurgency, India has suggested "a judicious mix of political persuasion and military coercion", sources in the external affairs ministry said.
The Maoists have reportedly mobilised strong local support in areas, which have been neglected by the government. The Maoist network has grown so much that they can now even enlist the help of elements like the Naxalites, the United Liberation Front of Asom and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam.
The Maoists do not serve China's interests, as Beijing wants the status quo to continue in the kingdom so that Nepal acts as a buffer state against India, an external affairs ministry source said.
Reflecting on the complexity of India-Nepal relations, King Gyanendra, on the eve of his departure to India, had said that the two sides should not let "past regrets and future fears" become "the twin thieves" to rob the opportunities of the present.
While working with Western countries to assist Nepal in dealing with its internal threats, India is cautioning against raising political hackles in Beijing that might be concerned about deepening Western involvement on its borders.
Recalling Vajpayee's visit to Nepal in January to participate in the eleventh South Asian Association of Regional Cooperation summit, when he had bilateral meetings with King Gyanendra and Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba, the spokeswoman said, "Our cultural linkages are also supplemented by over 100 scholarships to Nepalese students, which we offer annually. Both our countries are engaged in the fight against terrorism. You are aware of the Maoist violence in Nepal, which the Government of India has strongly condemned and we have expressed support for the steps taken by the Nepalese government to restore normalcy and order in the country."
"We are firmly of the view that multi-party democracy and constitutional monarchy are the two pillars which provide the space for peaceful accommodation and resolution of differences and for political stability and economic development of Nepal. We had offered assistance that is required by Nepal in its fight against terrorism and this has included equipment and training and also bilateral intelligence cooperation."
"We have also deployed special security personnel along the India-Nepal border to strengthen security in the border areas of Nepal in the context of the fight against terrorism. You would also recall during his visit to Kathmandu for the SAARC Summit this year, the prime minister had announced a grant of Nepalese Rs 800 million over 2 years -- this is about 50 crore Indian rupees -- for developmental projects in the social sectors including health, education and rural development," spokeswoman said.
Back to top
Tell us what you think of this report
