CPI (M) differs with UPA over Nepal

New Delhi, Apr 22 : The Communist Party of India (Marxist) CPI (M) today differed with the Manmohan Singh government on Nepal saying King Gyanendra's ''manoeuvre'' was not acceptable.

Terming the King's announcement yesterday that he was ready to hand over executive power to the political parties as a ''face-saving gesture'', the CPI (M) Polit Bureau said it was a ''maneouvre'' intended to retain effective powers.

The massive popular movement in Nepal aims for the full restoration of democracy, the party said agreeing with the seven-party alliance for ''rightly rejecting'' the offer to the parties to announce their new Prime Minister.

The crucial step in Nepal politics now is setting up of a Constituent Assembly that could decide the nature of the democratic set-up for the country, the Polit Bureau said.

The creation of a Constituent Assembly is part of the 12-point agreement between the seven political parties and the Maoists, it said.

''Only the people of Nepal can decide the nature of the political system they wish to have in the country.

Political sovereignty will be expressed through the Constituent Assembly,'' the CPI (M) said while urging the UPA government to heed the wishes of the people of Nepal.

India, which sent its special envoy Karan Singh to Nepal, had welcomed the King's announcement on TV, though it was immediately rejected by the seven-party alliance.

UNI

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