Visiting leaders of major political parties in India have expressed hope that democracy will be restored in Nepal soon.

Visiting Indian political leaders in an interaction program on the current political situation in Nepal in Kathmandu, Friday, Jan 06 06. nepalnews.com/rh

Addressing a Face to Face programme organised by the Reporters Club in Kathmandu on Friday, senior Indian leader and Secretary of Nepal Democracy Solidarity Committee (NDSC), DP Tripathi, said massive participation of people in the meetings organized by opposition parties in Nepal had shown in which direction the wind was blowing. “We hope democracy will be restored in Nepal soon,” he added.

Senior leader of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) and acting chief of the NDSC, Sitaram Yechuri, quoted former premier and senior Nepali Congress leader, Krishna Prasad Bhattarai, as saying that democracy will be restored in Nepal within a month.

Visiting Indian leaders, who had arrived Kathmandu at the invitation of Nepali Congress (Democratic) party, called on NC leader Bhattarai, NC president G P Koirala and other opposition leaders during their stay.

Yechuri said restoration of peace, democracy and normalcy in Nepal was an integral element for stability in South Asia. He said it was up to the people of Nepal to choose which type of political system they wanted. We are only extending our moral support for the on-going pro-democracy movement in Nepal, he added.

Responding to a query by Nepalnews if India is reviewing the “twin pillar” theory in Nepal after the recent visit of Indian Foreign Secretary, Shyam Saran, Yechuri—whose party is extending crucial support to the United Progressive Alliance government of India—said India was always in favour of constitutional monarchy and multi-party democracy in Nepal. “That must be restored,” he added.

Yechury termed the ending of unilateral ceasefire by CPN (Maoist) as unfortunate. He appealed to Maoists (in both Nepal and India) to give up violence and join the democratic process. He, however, said the 12-point understanding between the seven party opposition alliance of Nepal and CPN (Maoist) was an encouraging and positive move. He expressed hope that Nepali political parties, CPN (M) and people of Nepal would be able to decide the future form of democracy in the country on the basis of that understanding. “What is important is the supremacy of people. Everything should come under civilian control including the army,” he added.

When asked about the import of arms by Nepal from China, Yechury said as a sovereign country, Nepal had the right to establish bilateral relations with any other sovereign country of the world. He said (India) would not interfere in the sovereign decisions of Nepal.

Responding to a query on the forthcoming municipal polls in Nepal, Yechuri said any elections without the restoration of multi-party democracy in the country would be nothing but farcical. “We honour the (opposition) parties’ decision to boycott it. It would be tantamount to recognizing the entire system (put in place after the royal takeover),” he added.

Leader of the main opposition party of India, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Bijay Jolly, who was part of the Indian delegation, was quizzed by reporters regarding Viswo Hindu Parishad (VHP) leader, Ashok Singhal’s statement supporting the royal takeover in Nepal last year.

Jolly said VHP – a member of the Sangha parivar—was a social/cultural organisation with independent status. “Political decisions are taken by BJP and they are independent of clear-cut ideological stand of other members of Sangha (Rastriya Swoyamsevak Sangh) family,” he said. “As a political party we are committed to constitutional monarchy and multi-party democracy in Nepal,” he added.

Jolly disclosed that top leadership of the BJP had “very close” relationship with the royal palace of Nepal. “We also have cordial relationship with the political parties of Nepal. My visit here is to show that,” he added.

A leader of Communist Party of India (CPI), Pallav Sen Gupta, said Indian people wanted to see a prosperous and democratic Nepal based on rule of law. “We extend our support and solidarity to Nepali people’s movement for the restoration of democracy,” he added.

Dr Ramesh Dixit of the Indian Nationalist Congress said democracy was the only way to attain economic prosperity. He said any type of violence could not be justified under any pretext. He also urged the Maoists to give up violence. Dixit said Nepal was able to make considerable economic progress when democratic parties were in power.

Indian leaders had also addressed the first general convention of the breakaway Nepali Congress (Democratic) party in Kathmandu on Thursday.