BJP wants peace in neighbouring Nepal: Jaswant

New Delhi, Apr 28 (UNI) The Bharatiya Janata Party today supported the agreement between the Seven Party Alliance (SPA) and Nepal's King Gyanendra to end violence and begin a process to set up a democratic government in the Himalayan kingdom.

Speaking to reporters here, former External Affairs Minister Jaswant Singh agreed that the BJP as well as the Government had been earlier supporting the monarchy but it would have to accept the will of the people of Nepal.

It was upto the people of the country to decide on the constitutional supremacy of the King, he said.

Mr Jaswant Singh, who planned to go to Nepal but abondoned the plans following the developments, wished SPA leader Girija Prasad Koirala who has been named as Prime Minister, all the success for eastablishing peace and providing a stable government in Himalayan kingdon.

He, however, felt that Maoists would have to abandon the path of violence if they wanted to be part of the democratic government in the country.

''They cannot be simultaneously the practicing democrats and revolutionaries with arms,'' Mr Singh said.

The BJP leader refused to comment on the role of CPM leader Sitaram Yechury in borkering the deal between the King and the SPA. He said the Government had not clarified how the deal with the agitators was brokered.

''Less said about Nepal at this juncture, better it is for Nepal,'' he said in reply to a question.

In reply to another question, Mr Singh denied the BJP and the RSS had changed its stand on Nepal.

He regretted the Government had not taken the Opposition parties into confidence on the Nepal situation.

UNI KAS AK PC1916