India did not negotiate to retain monarchy in Nepal: Envoy

Kathmandu, May 16 (UNI) Refuting rumours that there had been an agreement between India and Nepal over saving monarchy in the country, the former has said there was no such negotiation.

Indian Ambassador to Nepal Rakesh Sood has said India did not negotiate to save monarchy in Nepal when massive protest against the monarchy was going on in the Himalayan nation.

Rumours were rife in the Nepalese political circles that Indian special envoy Dr Karan Singh had negotiated with the Nepalese political parties and monarchy at a time the demonstration against King Gyanendra was at its height.

King Gyanendra was forced to quit his dictatorial ambition and hand over power to the elected representatives after massive protest swept out to the streets across Nepal. The demonstrators wanted to abolish monarchy immediately.

Mr Sood said, ''All the major political forces must come together to make a national government and they should work on the basis of consensus.'' ''It becomes necessary for all the political parties, especially the Maoist party which has emerged as the largest party, to take a position of responsibility to develop consensus and form a government of national unity,'' the ambassador quoted as saying in the local media.

Replying to a query about the 1950 treaty, the Ambassador said it was not a new issue. India would be happy to take up the matter for discussion and was ready to work out a mutually agreed new treaty, he added.

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