Left parties differ with government on Nepal

New Delhi, Apr 22 (UNI) Unhappy with the UPA government's attempts to save the monarchy in troubled Nepal, the Left parties today made it clear that multi-party democracy and monarchy can not go hand in hand.

The issue of setting up a Constituent Assembly and the involvement of the Maoists in mainstream politics could not be brushed aside as sought by King Gyanendra in his announcement yesterday, the CPI (M), CPI and RSP said.

CPI General Secretary A B Bardhan said the King must be told in no uncertain terms that the seven-party alliance and the Maoists fought together for the restoration of democracy in Nepal.

''The future course of Nepal can't be decided without the seven-party alliance and the Maoists,'' said Mr Bardhan.

CPI (M) Polit Bureau member and Rajya Sabha MP Sitaram Yechury described the King's offer as a ''victory of the people's power''.

''We hope that by now the King must have understood the futility of his attempts to save his crown,'' said Mr Yechury adding that the King's silence on the repression let loose on the agitating people can best be described as ''arrogance of monarchy''.

By skipping the issue of a Constitutent Assembly, the King also sought to demonstrate the supremacy of the monarchy, which is not acceptable to the people of Nepal, he added.

''In the future political course, the Constituent Assembly will decide the placing and the role of monarchy,'' Mr Yechury said.

CPI National Secretary D Raja said the Indian government should not do anything which legitimises the actions of the King.

''The collective role of the alliance and the Maoists is paramount to restoration of peace and stability in the neighbouring country and the Manmohan Singh government should make efforts in that direction,'' said Mr Raja.

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 in a statement.

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 KSA/FZ YA BD1555