India not for interference: Indian Foreign Minister

December 30, 2003
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India never wants an interfering role in Nepal, Indian Foreign Minister Yashwant Sinha said Monday. “We always stick to the choices of the Nepali people. We have been supporting constitutional monarchy and multiparty democracy because these were the choices made by Nepali people themselves.”

“Our strict policy is non-interference,” Sinha said in an interview to “Dishanirdesh” of Nepal Television on Monday. “We never impose our views on Nepal. India and Nepal are two of the closest neighbours and we give friendly advise to Nepal only when we are asked or if it is very essential,” Sinha said.

On a recent statement issued by Indian Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee, Sinha said, the statement should not be taken as “interference” in Nepal’s internal affairs. “We, (in the statement), suggested an all party government, thinking that, such a government would be better than one party government and that, perhaps it will improve the situation in Nepal,” he said.

On allegations that India has been providing shelter to Nepali Maoists, Sinha said they are just “rumours.” “We feel concerned about Nepal’s Maoist problem,” he said. “If we encourage Nepali Maoists, then we would be encouraging MMC (Maoist Communist Centre) and PWG (People’s War Group). It’s not in India’s interest.”

MMC and PWG are two of India’s largest rebel groups fighting for autonomy and “people’s state” inside the Indian territories.

He, in the meantime, admitted that Nepali as well as Indian people cross the Nepal-India border with ease due to its openness. Nepali Maoists also are not the exceptions, according to Sinha. “It is worrying that Nepali Maoists are operating from India.”

On UML leader Madhav Kumar Nepal’s recent meeting with Maoist leaders in Lucknow, India, Sinha said, “We felt embarrassed.”
Commenting more on the Maoist problem of Nepal, the Indian Foreign Minister was of the view that dialogue is the best way to resolve the problem.

“Our guts feel that the Maoist problem should be solved only through talks,” he said. On bilateral economic cooperation, Sinha was of the view that Nepal and India can best extend cooperation in the field of energy and flood control. “We need energy. And Nepal can produce energy,” Sinha said.

Summarising the Nepal-India relationship, the Indian Foreign Minister said, “We have fraternal relationships. What we need now is to give a modern dimension to our ancient relationships by increasing economic, social and cultural ties.”