'A Misrepresentation Of India's Stand'

Shyam Saran: Good evening to all of you. I thought it might be useful for me to just share with you our current assessment of the developments taking place in Nepal.

As you know, the situation has been evolving at a rather rapid rate. We would like to clarify for you how we look at the situation and also what has been our engagement with Nepal concerning these recent developments. Let me begin by drawing your attention to the fact that India has all along supported the restoration of multi-party democracy in Nepal and we have consistently supported the democratic forces.

You will recall that when on February 1, 2005, a state of emergency was declared and the then civilian Government was dismissed by His Majesty the King, we had condemned that action. You would recall that we had also taken the step of suspending arms supplies to Nepal. This was an expression of our support for the restoration of democracy. Since then, all these last several months, we have been very consistent in our support and the arms suspension has remained in force. Our consistent approach has been to try and persuade the constitutional forces in Nepal to work together in order to restore democracy, in order to bring about political stability as well as economic recovery in the country.

We have always felt that political power should be exercised by the representatives of the people, and it is for them to really decide what the future of Nepal is going to be. But we as a close neighbour of Nepal, as a country which has very very intimate cultural and ethnic links with this country, it has always been our wish to seek peace and prosperity in Nepal because stability in Nepal is in the best interests of India. We have also believed that democracy in Nepal is the best guarantee of such stability.

It is in pursuit of this approach that when the situation in recent weeks started deteriorating, the Prime Minister decided to send a Special Envoy, a very experienced political personage Dr. Karan Singh to Nepal. I was present with Dr. Karan Singh in Kathmandu a couple of days ago. We had meetings with the political party leaders. We conveyed to them our continuing support to the democratic aspirations of the people of Nepal. We also conveyed our admiration for the fact that the Seven Party Alliance had stood together united. We also expressed our appreciation and our admiration for the manner in which they had led the political movement for the restoration of democracy in Nepal. Our message when Dr. Karan Singh met His Majesty the King was to share with him our assessment of the situation, the groundswell of public opinion, groundswell of popular emotion in favour of the restoration of democracy. We asked His Majesty the King to take stock of the seriousness of the situation and take appropriate measures, make the appropriate gestures in order to ensure the restoration of multiparty democracy and to respond to the sentiments of the people.

In that context, I would like to mention that yesterday you would have seen the press statement which was made by our Spokesman on the proclamation made by His Majesty the King. The one aspect which we thought was very important was the aspect of the intention of His Majesty the King to transfer all executive authority to a Government which would be formed by the Seven Party Alliance under a leader of its own choosing. Having said that we of course realize that it is really up to the people of Nepal to decide in what manner this is to be brought about. We do not wish to be in a position to prescribe for Nepal, and to prescribe for the people of Nepal in what manner they would go about realizing their democratic aspirations.

We have stood by the people of Nepal in their movement for realizing their democratic aspirations. Yesterday you would have seen in our press release that we also stated that the people of Nepal deserve our respect and admiration for the manner in which through peaceful demonstrations they have given expression to their desire for multiparty democracy. That admiration is very much an expression also of the very close affinity that we feel for the people of Nepal. We have also pointed out in the statement that we are very conscious of the great hardship that the people of Nepal have been facing as a result of prolonged economic and political turmoil. We have also expressed our intention that in the task of restoring political stability and economic recovery, India would stand ready as always to extend all possible assistance and support to Nepal.

I would like draw attention to the fact that this morning there have been some reports that there was some dissatisfaction in certain quarters about India’s stand and I think there was a misrepresentation of India’s stand by some elements who are perhaps hostile to the very close and friendly relations between India and Nepal. I would like to state here that these kind of sentiments which are being spread amongst people have absolutely no basis. There is no doubt of India’s commitment to democracy in Nepal and to our support for the democratic forces in Nepal. I think this message should go very loud and clear to the people of Nepal.

I would like to mention that we have seen the press release issued by the alliance of the seven political parties today. They have had a high-level meeting of the alliance in the afternoon today. The press release has reiterated the agenda of the Seven Party Alliance. We, of course, support the view of the Alliance that restoration of peace and multiparty democracy in Nepal is the need of the hour. The Alliance of course has been in the forefront, as I said, of the peaceful movement for the restoration of multiparty democracy in Nepal. They have given expression to the aspirations of the people of Nepal for democratic values and freedom and we believe that the sentiments of the people of Nepal need to be respected.

We are very concerned about the situation in Nepal and we believe that there should be a constant review of the manner in which these developments continue in the coming days because we also believe that the economic situation in the country is deteriorating very rapidly. I would like to draw your attention to the fact that for the last several days there has been a long line of cargo vehicles and tankers which have been backed up on the Indian side of the border. It is our effort to see that as soon as conditions permit we would try and facilitate as much as possible the movement of cargo of essential commodities from the Indian side into Nepal because the shortages that are now beginning to appear in places like Kathmandu or in Pokhra, this would only increase the economic hardship that the people of Nepal are suffering. And it is always going to be our endeavour that our brothers and sisters in Nepal do not suffer because of the possible disruption of the supply of essential goods. So, even though because of the conditions in Nepal the cargo vehicles have been lined up on the Indian side we are trying our very best to see how we can facilitate the movement of essential goods so that the situation is not further exacerbated.

I think I will stop here. I would be very happy to take any questions from you.

Question: Kal jo Raja ne kaha, kuchh dinon pehle bhi unhone kuchh aise hi ailan kiye the jab kaha gaya tha … Saaf taur par farq kya nazar aaya? Unhone basically jo pehle kaha tha usiko ek naye bottle mein pesh karne ki koshish ki. Kuchh to saaf nahin kaha … chunav kab kiye jane hain. Doosra sawal, Narayanhiti palace se kya sanket mile hain? Kya unhone Bharat ke kadamon ki sarahna ki hai ya ise hastakshep ke taur par dekhahai?

[Translations in italics are literal, hurried efforts so as to make thetext comprehensible to non-Hindi knowing readers]

What the king said yesterday, even some days back as well some similarannouncements had been made ... but in real terms, is there a discernibledifference? Basically, whatever he had said earlier has been packaged in a newbottle. He did not say anything clearly: when are the elections to be held?Second question: What indications are emanating from Narayanhiti palace? Havethey appreciated the Indian role or have they seen it as meddling?

Shyam Saran: Dekhiye, jo Raja ka ailan jo tha uske baare mein kal hamne tippani ki thi. Usmein jo ek mudda jo tha ki jo executive authority jo hai voh Seven Party Alliance ke sarkar ko milni chahiye. Aur unko khud yeh adhikar hai apna leader chunne ka, Prime Minister chunne ka. To yeh jo baat unhone kahi voh pehle se ek thoda badlav to zaroor tha, lekin jaise hamne kaha ki yeh kis tarah isko aage badhana hai, yeh jo Seven Party political Alliance hai aur Nepal ki jo janta hai, uske haath mein hai kaise isko aage badhana hai. Yeh Hindustan ki jagah nahin hai batane ke liye ki isko kis tarah laagu kiya jaye. To hamari jo tippani thi voh is siddhant pe thi ki jo full executive authority hai voh Raja ke haath mein nahin rahni chahiye, voh janta ke haath mein rahni chahiye. Us siddhant pe hamne voh tippani ki thi. Aur, is siddhant ko kis tarah se laagu kiya jaye yeh to ek mechanism hai jispe janta khud vichar karegi aur usko laagu karegi.

Jahan tak ki Bharat ka jo yogdaan hai, ya role hai Nepal mein, jaisa hamne kaha ki koi ismein hastakshep ki baat nahin hai. Nepal hamara ek bahut hi kareebi padosi desh hai. Nepal mein jo kuch bhi hoga Bharat ke upar bhi uska parinaam laaguhoga.

[Well, we had commented on the announcement by the king yesterday. Theissue there was that the executive authority should be transferred to thegovernment of the seven party alliance. And they have the right to choose theirleader. So what he has said now - there definitely is some change from theearlier stand, but as we said, as to how this is to be carried forward is forthe seven party alliance and the people of Nepal. It is not India's place todetermine how this should be carried out. So our comment should be seen in thelight of this principle that the full executive authority should not stay in thehands of the king, but should be in the hands of the people. We made thatcomment on the basis of that principle. As for how that principle should beimplemented, that is to determined by the people and they will be the ones toimplement it.  

As for the contribution by India, or Indian role in Nepal, as we havesaid, there is no question of meddling in this. Nepal is a very closeneighbouring country. Whatever happens in Nepal will have a bearing on India aswell...]

Question: Nepal naresh bhi aisa hi maan rahen hain ki … hastakshep nahinhain?

[Does the Nepal king too look at it like this -- that it is not meddling?]

Shyam Saran: Dekhiye, hamne iske bare mein to baat nahin ki unse ki Bharat ka hastakshep ho raha hai ya nahin. Hamare jo Special Envoy the, unhone Bharat ki or se ek friendly neighbour ke naate se unko ek assessment diya ki kis tarah se ham dekh rahein hai, jo ek vahan pe mahaul badal raha hai, bahut tezi se badal raha hai, uska unko hamne ek assessment diya. Aur yeh bhi kaha ki agar is mamle mein kadam jaldi nahin uthaye jayenge, to ho sakta hai ki yeh jo sthiti hai Nepal mein aur bhi bigad sakti hai. Aur yeh bhi kaha ki jo democracy ka jo siddhant hai, democratic values hain, aur jo Nepal ki janta democracy ki jo maang kar rahi hai, usko respect karna, usko respond karna bahut hi anivarya hai. Yeh to main nahin sochta hun ki usko hastkshep ke roop mein liya ja saktahai.

[Well, we did not talk to him about this whether there is any meddling byIndia on this or not. Our special envoy gave him an assessment from India as afriendly neighbour, as to how we perceive the fast-changing situation in Nepal.We gave him an assessment. And we also said that unless immediate steps aretaken, then it is possible that the situation in Nepal could furtherdeteriorate. And we also said that as far as the principle of democracy isconcerned, there are democratic values, and that it is very necessary to respectand respond to the people's demand for democracy. I do not think any of this canbe seen as meddling.]

Question: You referred to the groundswell and the reality there. How come there was a mismatch between India’s assessment and what the parties involved in the movement have said because all of them have rejected the King’s proposal yesterday?

Shyam Saran: I think you should be careful not to take India’s statement yesterday as an acceptance of this or rejection of that proposal. As I said, what we tried to put across in the statement yesterday was that the principle that power should be handed over by the monarchy to the people of Nepal, that particular principle the King in his statement, in his proclamation, appears to have conceded. How that is to be taken forward in terms of the actual formation of a Government with all the full executive authority, how the process of democratization would be carried forward, this is really for the people of Nepal to decide. In this regard we will respect the decisions of the people of Nepal.

Question: The way India responded to King’s announcement, the people of Nepal are raising anti-India slogans. They are not accepting it in a general manner.

Shyam Saran: I do not think that it is the people of Nepal who have rejected or responded negatively to what India has said. I think there have been certain sections or certain elements who have deliberately distorted the implication of what India has said. We have been and continue to be firmly on the side of democratic forces in Nepal. There should be no ambiguity about that.

Our reaction to His Majesty’s statement yesterday was to welcome the principle that full executive authority would be handed over to where it belongs, that is, to the people of Nepal. If you look at the rest of the statement which was made yesterday I think it would be very clear. We have expressed our deep admiration for the people of Nepal for the manner in which they have upheld their faith in democracy, their faith in the realization of their own democratic rights. So, there should not be any room for any ambiguity about India’s stand. After all, as I mentioned to you, right from February 1, 2005, India has taken a very clear-cut stand with regard to the restoration of democracy. How can there be any question about India’s stand? We were the first to stop the supply of arms to Nepal. We persuaded our other international partners to join us in the same action. So, it is we who have in fact gathered together the international community also to work together with us for the restoration of democracy in Nepal. How can there be any doubts about India’s credentials in this regard?

Question: As the demonstrations are going on in Nepal, if in a situation they throw out the King and if the King asks for political asylum from the Indian Government, will the Indian Government provide the political asylum to the King or not?

Shyam Saran: I think you are asking a hypothetical question to which I do not think a response is necessary at this point of time.

Question: Sir, aap ne kaha ki India interfere nahin karega vahan. Aap ek tarah se Seven Party Alliance ko yeh kah rahe hain ki King ne jo ailan kiya hai use voh accept kar lein. Aur doosra yeh ki jab Seven Party Alliance ne is offer ko reject kar diya hai, toh ham constitutional monarchy ko kis limit tak supportkarenge?

Sir, you said India would not interfere there. In a way, you are tellingthe Seven Party Allinace that they should accept the announcement made by theking. And secondly, when the Seven Party Alliance rejected this offer, how farcan we support constitutional monarchy?

Shyam Saran: Hamara yeh maanna hai ki Nepal ka jo bhavishya hai, Nepal ki janta uspe nirnay legi. Yeh hamara haq nahin banta hai kisi ko kahna ki kis tarah ki sarkar aap banaiye, ya is tarah ki pranaali honi chahiye Nepal mein, Hindustan ke liye ye jagah nahin banti hai. Lekin yeh zaroor hamari jagah banti hai ki ham ek kareebi padosi hone ke naate Nepal mein jo ek bahut hi pratikool sthiti bani hui hai jiska parinaam hamaare upar bhi pad sakta hai, iske upar hamko ek review to hamesha karna padega. Aur doosri cheez hai, Nepal mein democracy ke liye jo hamara support raha hai voh consistent support raha hai, usko ham kisi tarah ka hastakshep nahin maantehain.

Teesri jo aapne baat kahi ki Seven Party Alliance ne jo Raja ne unko offer kiya tha usko reject kiya hai. Jahan tak main dekh raha hun, unhone kaha hai ki Seven Party Alliance ki unki jo yeh sarkar banegi, voh chahte hain ki yeh ek restoration of Parliament hai, uske maarfat banni chahiye. Aur unka ek apna roadmap hai. Jo yeh adhikarik sarkar hai voh kis tarah banayi jayegi, kis madhyam se banegi, yeh to Nepal ki janta uske upar apna nirnay degi. Hamara to yeh kahna hai ki jo ek siddhant hamara bhi siddhant tha, jo political parties ka bhi siddhant tha, jo Nepali janta ka siddhant tha, ki jo political power hai voh Raja ke haath se janta ke haath mein aani chahiye. Ye siddhant jo hai, na to hamare beech mein, parties ke beech mein, Nepali janta ke beech mein, is vichar mein koi farq hai. Kis tarah se yeh aadhikarik sarkar banayi jayegi aur uska kya roadmap hoga, kya roadmap hona chahiye, ham uspe to nirnay nahin le sakte hain. To yeh sandesh ham log dena chahte hain Nepali janta ko ki yeh aapke haath mein hain. Kis tarah se aap apna bhavishya banana chahte hain, democracy ko laagu phir se karna chahte hain, yeh aapke haath mein hai. And India will respect the wishes of the people of Nepal.

[We believe that the people of Nepal will decide the future of Nepal. Itis not our right to tell someone as to what type of a government they shouldform, or such and such should be the process in Nepal. It is not India's placeto say this. But, as a close neighbour, it definitely is our place to alwaysreview the very unfavourable situation in Nepal which could have an effect on usas well. Secondly, our support for democracy in Nepal has been very consistentand we do not consider that as any kind of meddling. Thirdly, as for yourstatement that the seven party alliance has rejected the king's offer: as far asI can see, they have said that when their government is formed, it be after therestoration of Parliament. And they have their own roadmap.