Karan Singh briefs PM on talks with Nepal King

New Delhi, Apr 21: Dr Karan Singh, who went to Nepal earlier this week as the Prime Minister's Special Envoy, today briefed Dr Manmohan Singh on his talks with King Gyanendra.

Emerging from the meeting with the Prime Minister, Dr Karan Singh told reporters a ''major step'' towards restoration of democracy was likely in the Himalayan Kingdom.

''It is our hope and expectation that perhaps by the end of the day some major announcement will be made. We are hoping that there will be some major step towards re-instating democracy,'' he said.

Dr Karan Singh, who was sent by the Prime Minister to Nepal on Wednesday to assess the situation and convey India's concerns to King Gyanendra, met the Nepali monarch for two hours at his Narayanhity Palace in Kathmandu yesterday.

He had also met several Nepali political leaders on Wednesday.

Declining to give details, he, however, said more time should be given to the King.

''I am not going into details. We must give time to the King to clearly think over it and not to dictate to him. Nepal is an independent country. We have done our bit,'' Dr Singh added.

National Security Adviser (NSA) M K Narayanan and Foreign Secretary Shyam Saran were also present at the meeting with the Prime Minister.

Immediately after returning from Kathmandu yesterday, Dr Karan Singh expressed hope for an early breakthrough in the political crisis in the Himalayan kingdom.

''I am optimistic. I am hopeful that the King will make an announcement shortly...The ball is in the King's court,'' Dr Singh had told reporters at the airports after his return.

He also said it was for the people of Nepal to take a decision for solving the political crisis there.

During his meeting with the Nepal King, Dr Singh conveyed India's deep concern at the breakdown of law and order machinery and the political and economic difficulties people in Nepal were facing.

He also handed over a letter from the Prime Minister to the Nepal monarch.

UNI

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