Kathmandu Tense But Peaceful, Indians Worried

While Kathmandu remains largely tense but peaceful under curfew, politicalparties gave conflicting signals over the new monarch and his much-publicisedprobe into the royal massacre.

First there was the drama involving the communinst leader Madhav Nepal who onTuesday evening issued a statement distancing himself from the probe. But hisparty sources said that Bharat Mohan Adhikary, the chief whip of the CommunistParty of Nepal in the national assembly has been nominated as his replacement.But confusion remained as there was such commitment.

Earlier, during the day, the working committee of the ruling Nepali Congressmet and welcomed the probe, expressing hope that it would bring out the truth.This, analysts claimed, was necessary to ensure that the national assemblyspeaker Taranath Ranabhat did not quit the probe panel. There had been rumblingsfrom his side also, earlier.

With this, the possibilities of a serious stand-off between the Palace andthe GP Koirala government seems to have been averted. At least for now.

No senior political leader has so far called on the king, who remained withinthe confines of the palace, cloistered with his aides and close associates.

'Indians Worried'

There are worries that anger on the streets following the royal massacremight translate into anti-Indian sentiment as had happened at the time of thel'affaire Hrithik Roshan and the alleged remarks (denied by him and the Indiangovernment!) made by him.

Instability of any nature in Nepal is not in either country's interest.Earlier, Vajpayee had dismissed speculation about a conspiracy behind the royalmurders and assured Nepal of his government's continuing co-operation.

There has been concern that the current instability may lead to a rise inNepal's Maoist insurgency. There have been speculations galore that the possiblestrengthening of Maoist forces in Nepal may give China and Pakistan a strategicadvantage against India.

But the "experts" as usual remain divided over this too. No countrywould want to get embroiled in risky political turmoil in Nepal, argue somewhile there is belief among some that a rise in Maoist activity could actuallystrengthen co-operation between Nepal and India.