'What Has Happened Is Not An Accident'

In a wide-ranging interview to PTI in Kathmandu, the 54-year-old Chakra PrasadBastola, a a product of Banaras Hindu University, voiced satisfaction over India's response followingthe killing of king Birendra and nine other royals saying newDelhi's reaction to the events had been "very pragmatic,friendly, sympathetic and cooperative". 

He said there would not be change in fundamentals and basic parameters ofits relations with India in the wake of enthronement of kingGyanendra after the June 1 palace massacre and asserted thatit would not allow its soil to be used for anti-Indiaactivities. 

On Indo-Nepal ties
He saidreports about Nepal increasingly becoming a safe haven for antiIndia forces had been blown out of proportion in the same wayas reports about anti-India sentiments in Nepal have been sensationalised. 

"We will not (not) let our soil be usedagainst our neighbours. We know that it will be against ourown interests."  

Replying to questions, Bastola said India and Nepal wouldhave to graduate their ties in the new context ofglobalisation and other changes sweeping the world whilekeeping in mind the factors that had guided the relations inthe past. "There has to be a mix of old and new." 

"There will be continuity in relationship. Slight changesdo happen in relations between countries, but the fundamentalsand basic parameters will remain the same," he said when askedwhether the change of guards at Narayanhity palace wouldaffect ties between new Delhi and Kathmandu. 

On monarchy and democracy
Terming as media build-up charges that the new monarchwas an autocrat, Bastola said, "but I do realise that apragmatic coalition has to be built for consolidation ofdemocracy and perpetuation of constitutional monarchy takinginto account fissiparous tendencies." 

Pointing out that the underground pro-republican Maoist rebels had become a formidable factor in the country, he saidthere is need for an understanding between the monarchy andthe people in order to consolidate stability in the kingdom.

On King Gyanendra
Asked about allegations that Gyanendra had opposedintroduction of a multi-party system during the pro-democracyagitation in 1990, he said, "our perception about him shouldbe from the point he instituted a probe into the palacekillings and addressed the nation pledging to upholdconstitutional monarchy and multi-party democracy. Before thathe was not king." 

Violence
The situation in the kingdom, he said, was graduallysettling down and returning to normalcy. On the violence following the June 1 killings, he said,"the country and people have been struck by a veryunprecedented and sad incident. It has taken them by surpriseand grief, all at the same time."  

China
On apprehensions in India about a Nepalese tilt towards China, he said, "we have to look within and see what haschanged. In the wake of globalisation, changes are perceptibleto that very extent in the bilateral context and bothcountries have to accept it as a reality."

Media
Replying to a question, Bastola said his government wasnot very happy with the role of the media in general as theconflicting versions were creating some problems and confusionin the minds of the people. 

"What has happened is not an accident. The June 1 killings have to do with the emotions, sentiments and futureof a nation. It should not be taken as a news event. They (themedia) should be more sensitive. The electronic media has not been sensitive enough," he said.

The minister, however, conceded that there may have been some communication gap and lack of coordination and attributedthe gap to the fact that palace matters were out of bound foreveryone. He said there might be a section opposed to India, butone should not generalise. Even here, people equate the viewsaired on private Indian television networks with that ofIndia. 

Yubraj Ghimire
He justified the arrest of Yubraj Ghimire, editor of themass circulated Nepalese daily Kantipur on sedition charges,saying freedom (of the press) does not mean license. 

"No press in the name of freedom can spread ill feelingswith friendly countries or raise finger at the head of thestate. How can you incite the army? There is a rule of law inthis country to which even the press should subscribe to," he said.

Ghimire was arrested under due process of law, he said. The editor and two senior executives of the daily werearrested following publication of an article written byunderground Maoist leader Baburam Bhattarai which alleged anexus between India's external intelligence agency RAW, America's CIA and the palace. The arrests have been widelycondemned both in Nepal and abroad. 

Kashmir: Indo-Pak
Describing kashmir as a "verydeep-rooted problem" between India and Pakistan, he said lessening of tension between the two nuclear neighbourswould help in forging better understanding in South Asia. 

"We feel that the lessening of tensions between India and Pakistan will create an atmosphere for strengthening of betterunderstanding in the region for mutual cooperation, which hasbeen lacking for sometime," 

Asked about Pakistan's support to militant groups in Kashmir, Bastola said, "we should avoid terrorism anywhere inthe world. We should all join hands and fight against it." 

Indo-Bangladesh
On the recent border skirmishes between India and Bangladesh, he said in a lighter vein, "small problems areinherent in any relationship. If they are not there, it meanssomething is seriously wrong." 

Invitation to Jaswant Singh
He said he has extended an invitation to his Indian counterpart Jaswant Singh to visitKathmandu. 

"I am waiting for his response and looking forwardto his visit," he said.

Rajiv Shahi
In the first ever officialconfirmation, he said armydoctor Capt Rajiv Shahi, a close relative of the royal family, was beingquestioned after he charged late crown Prince Dipendra with killing his father KingBirendra, mother queen Aishwarya and other royals.

"He (Shahi) is being questioned,"he said when asked about Shahi's disappearance after the charges he leveled at a press briefing at theBirendra military hospital in Kathmandu on Thursday.

He, however, said he was not aware of the whereabouts of the captain.