Nepal interlocutor: Yechury willing, no official word

New Delhi, Apr 19: A serious move is afoot to get CPI(M) stalwart and Rajya Sabha member Sitaram Yechury to act as interlocutor among the seven-party alliance, Maoists, the international community and Indian government to end the current political turmoil in Nepal.

The CPIM) also does not appear to be averse to the idea. The move doing the rounds the government circles for quite some time assumes special significance in the background of the government's willingness to get Mr Yechury on board as he is well-versed in Nepal politics and enjoys credibility in both India and Nepal.

Significantly, former Union Minister Karan Singh is already in Nepal as Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's special envoy.

Mr Yechury said he had however not heard " any thing official" from any side so far, adding that CPI(M) had strong connection with struggling Nepalese people as it had always played a significant role in unifying the communist parties there.

"Given this background the CPI(M) is in a position to facilitate the process of helping the Nepalese people to come out of the present political mess. The Left has always reiterated that ultimately the future of democratic structure will be decided by the Nepalese only," the CPI(M) senior leader said.

On the Maoists joining the seven parties alliance in agreement on 12 points, the CPI(M) leader said it was" very welcome" that they had also decided to not go by gun and join the democratic mainstream if the Constituent Assembly was set up to write a new constitution.

Left leaders asked the Manmohan Singh government to lend all support to the ongoing pro- democracy movement in Nepal.

"The government should desist from doing any such thing which legitimises the autocratic and cruel king." CPI General Secretary A B Bardhan said the Left parties alongwith the SP and the NCP had formed the Nepal Democracy Solidarity Committee India, headed by CPI(M) veteran H S Surjeet and was in constant touch with the seven political parties who had also arrived at a 12- point agreement with the Maoists and the people' s struggle had reached a decisive stage.

Impressing on the government that even the army would now now be unable to quell the popular rebellion against the King, Mr Bardhan said," King Gyanendra has proved as the most unpopular among the people of Nepal." The Solidarity Committee in a separate statement stressed the need for" unstinted support and solidarity of all Indian people with their Nepalese brethren."

Committee Chairman Mr Surjeet said it was a welcome step that the Maoists had publicly assured that they would renounce the gun and join the political process.

"The King of Nepal must realize that the urge for democracy cannot be suppressed any further," Mr Surjeet added.

UNI

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