No plans to evacuate Indians from Nepal : MEA, CA

New Delhi, Apr 24 (UNI) There are no plans to evacuate Indian nationals from Nepal and the Indian Airlines has not been put on alert in the wake of continued violence and pro-democracy agitation in the Himalayan kingdom, the government said tonight.

Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee chaired a high-level meeting at his office and reviewed the current developments including the situation in that country.

The two-hour meeting which discussed the Nepal situation in detail, was also attended by Home Minister Shivraj Patil, Foreign Secretary Shyam Saran, Home Secretary V K Duggal, Defence Secretary Shekhar Dutt, Army Chief J J Singh and Heads of various intelligence agencies, sources said.

An External Affairs Ministry spokesman said there were no plans for evacuation of Indian officials or nationals from Nepal.

''We do not believe the situation in Nepal warrants any such planning,'' the spokesman said.

The Civil Aviation Ministry also denied that it was planning to evacuate anyone from Nepal and that Indian Airlines had been put on alert.

Describing as ''incorrect and baseless'' reports in a section of the media that Indian Airlines had been put on alert and asked to stand by to evacuate Indians from Nepal, a statement issued by the Civil Aviation Ministry late tonight said ''the Ministry has reiterated that there are no plans for any evacuation in Nepal and Indian Airlines has not been put on alert.

The meeting at the South Block office of Defence Minister was held as skirmishes continued between pro-democracy agitators and the police while the seven-party alliance, spearheading the movement, planned a ''grand show'' tomorrow for reinstating the dissolved Parliament.

UNI RB RA KP2130