Jaswant to visit Nepal tomorrow as BJP envoy

New Delhi, Apr 23 (UNI) Mr Jaswant Singh will visit the anarchy-hit Nepal tomorrow to hold talks with King Gyanendra and political leaders, aimed at restoring multi-party democracy in the Himalayan nation.

In his capacity as BJP's representative, the former External Affairs Minister will also discuss the current turmoil there with the chief of the Royal Nepal Army.

Mr Singh is the second Indian leader to visit Nepal, followed by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's special envoy Karan Singh. Foreign Secretary Shyam Saran was also in Kathmandu last week.

Following talks with Dr Karan Singh, King Gyanendra had offered to instal an interim government and hold elections subsequently. But the political parties, spearheading the ongoing agitation, have rejected the King's offer stating that it had fallen far short of their demand.

Mr Singh has said his first priority was to help restore peace in Nepal and its Constitution which guaranteed the people a functional democracy alongside monarchy.

UNI SN MA HT1822