We have let the people of Nepal down: Natwar

New Delhi, Apr 24 (UNI) Former External Affairs Minister Natwar Singh today strongly criticised the UPA government's policies on Nepal saying it had ''let the people of Nepal down.'' ''We have let the people of Nepal down, lost the goodwill of the seven parties, earned the annoyance of the Maoists and received no kudos from King Gyanendra,'' Mr Natwar Singh said in a statement issued here.

He said India's ''not so masterly activity'' for months in Nepal had not succeeded.

Dr Karan Singh was tried but it was too late. What could India do now, he asked observing that too much was at stake in geo-political terms.

''We should be the leading player. Why are we not ?'' Mr Natwar Singh said King Gyanendra should take a page out of the democratic book of the ''enlightened'' King of Bhutan.

The skill and forethought that the Bhutan King had shown, was praiseworthy'' and he had under stood the temper of the times and responded with wisdom, he said.

The former External Affairs Minister, who lost his portfolio after getting embroiled in the multi-million dollar oil-for-food controversy regarding Iraq, said Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on his return from Uzbekistan should immediately call a meeting of the leaders of all political parties to evolve a national consensus on Nepal.

He said CPI(M) leader Sitaram Yechuri's seven-point formula could be the bace on which a ''coherent and concrete'' policy could firmly stand.

''The not so engaging linguistic incoherence of some Indian players will not do. We need calm self-awareness and strong nerves,'' he said.

The Congress Party, meanwhile, sought to underplay Mr Natwar Singh's statement saying there were no ''sudden jerks'' in our Nepal policy.

''We strongly support the government's foreign policy which is marked by continuity. But, Mr Natwar Singh may have his own views,'' AICC Spokesman Abishek Manu Singhvi told newspersons when his attention was drawn to Mr Singh's statement.

Mr Singhvi said the Congress fully supported the foreign policy of the government. ''The Party does so because the policy is consistent and continuous,'' he added.

He said the India government had been moving on the same direction over a period of time. However, it was best left to the government to finetune and adjust to the exingencies of the situation in a fast evolving scenario.

UNI RB MA VP2040