India may offer economic and military package to Nepal

Tashkent, Apr 25 (UNI) With King Gyanendra's decision to reconvene Parliament and restore multi-party democracy in Nepal, India appears set to offer an economic package and may also resume arms supplies to the Himalayan Kingdom at a later stage to ensure political stability there, official sources said tonight.

The Indian government, which welcomed the King's announcement to reconvene the dissolved Parliament, was working out an economic package for the government to be led by Mr G P Koirala, that is expected to take over the reigns in Kathmandu in the next few days, the sources said.

Last three weeks of civilian unrest against the monarchy in the kingdom has caused enormous hardships to the people, leading to short of essential commodities.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, now on a foreign visit, is constantly in touch with his senior Cabinet colleagues on the fast changing political developments in that country. The Prime Minister has also held consultations with National Security Adviser M K Naryanan, who is regularly monitoring the situation in the kingdom.

In a statement in New Delhi today, the External Affairs Ministry said the convening of the revived House of Representatives and the installation of governments, as indicated by the seven-party alliance (SPA), was a wlecome development.

''This is a victory for the people of Nepal, who have displayed extraordinary courage and affirmed their faith and commitment to freedom and democracy,'' it said.

The statement said India was ready to render unstinted support to the people of Nepal in whatever manner they wished.

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