'India bungled on Nepal' : Karan Singh

New Delhi, May 24 (UNI) Senior Congress leader Karan Singh, India's Special Envoy on Nepal during the recent political crisis there, has said New Delhi had ''bungled' by delaying its intervention into the situation in the Himalayan Kingdom.

''The situation should never have been allowed to deteriorate The people in Nepal had declared the launch of the movement long time ago. Had the King not made the second declaration on April 23, then the entire Kathmandu would probably have been destroyed a day later (April 24),'' Dr Karan Singh told Outlook Hindi weekly in an interview.

Saying he fully concurred with the suggestion that India should have intervened in the Nepalese crisis ''somewhat earlier'', Dr Singh, a Rajya Sabha member, opined that that it was this delay that fuelled anti-India sentiments in Nepal.

''People in Nepal can very swiftly be swayed against India,'' he said.

About the changed situation in the Himalayan Kingdom, he said it was a very challenging period in that country because ''if the seven parties fail to hang together, then the Maoists will soon occupy the centrestage...If India's left parties help in this matter in national interest, then we don't have any objection.

''The CPM can help by joining the efforts towards asking the Maoists to join the mainstream by surrendering arms,'' Dr Singh said.

He also held that it was somewhat difficult to say that the Maoists in Nepal had ''direct relations'' with the Naxalites in India.

''Home Minister Shivraj Patil has already stated that the two outfits don't have a direct relationship, which is only limited to the idelogical plane. However, the Maoists have a dirtect relationship with our Left parties. Some of the Maoist leaders have studieed with our Left leaders in the Jawaharlal Nehru University.'' Asked about Nepal abrogating its status of the world' only Hindu Kingdom, he said there were around 50-55 Muslim countries, but no body had objected to them.

''What can I say if Nepal itself has decided to change its status?'' he remarked.

He also argued that the strengthening of the democratic system there would foster better relations with India. ''...but if that system disintegrates, then it will be a matter of concern for us. We will have to think seriously what its impact will be on the 1800-km-long Indo-Nepal border.'' UNI RB/SKS RL PM1659