"India grieves with Nepal"

After the shock and grief had been expressed and a state mourning for threedays announced over the massacre of several members of the Nepal royal family,the Vajpayee Government was monitoring  the tragic developments in theworld's only Hindu kingdom. The immediate concern is that the kingdom may be ina for a prolonged 'period of uncertainty', with unpredictable geo-politicalfallout.

As soon as the news of King Birendra's death was confirmed, the PrimeMinister Vajpayee, spoke to his Nepali counterpart G.P.Koirala. An emergencymeeting of the Cabinet Committee on Security was also called.. The somewhattruncated CCS was of the view that preliminary evidence did not suggest any"conspiracy'' and that the tragic events had to be put down to the crownprince's agitated state of mind.

However, since Prince Gyanendra has been declared only "an actingking'', India's concerns would be that the uncertain situation is not exploitedby unfriendly powers to crank up an anti-India mood.

Earlier, Jaswant Singh, Minister for External Affairs, had placed on recordthat "the Government and the people of India are stunned and deeply shockedat the tragic and untimely demise of His Majesty the King of Nepal, Her Majestythe Queen and other members of the royal family''. The statement added: "Asa close neighbour and friend, India conveys its heartfelt condolences to themourning nation of the Royal Kingdom of Nepal and to the members of the royalfamily. Our heart goes out to them and the Queen Mother in this hour of grief.India grieves with Nepal."

Later, the Union Cabinet met at the Prime Minister's residence and passed acondolence resolution. "As a neighbour and close friend," it said,"in this hour of Nepal's grief, we share the feelings of immense sorrow ofHer Majesty the Queen Mother, members of the Royal Family and the Government andpeople of the Kingdom of Nepal. We pray that the mourning nation and itscitizens be bestowed the strength and courage to bear this irreparable loss.India stands by them in this hour of national grief.''

Briefing reporters after the Cabinet meeting, Mr. Singh noted that as per theearlier plan the President, Mr. K. R. Narayanan, and the Union Home Minister,Mr. L. K. Advani, would have represented India at the royal funeral but sincethen Nepal has expressed itself unable to invite any foreign dignitary.Therefore the Indian presence was marked at the Nepal embassy in New Delhi.

Earlier, BJP expressed shock overthe assassination of Nepalese King Birendra and several members of the royalfamily and said the people of India will stand behind the people of theHimalayan kingdom in their hour of grief.

Congress president Sonia Gandhi also expressed deepshock and distress over the assassination of the king and queen of Nepaldescribing it as an "overwhelming tragedy" that had befallen theNepali royal family, its government and the people of Himalayan kingdom.

"I have cherished memories of my many meetings withtheir majesties, the late king and queen of Nepal. That makes this tragedy evenmore painful for me", she said in a condolence message.