India hopes for peace in Nepal

Jangipur (West Bengal), May 6 (ANI): Terming Nepal's ongoing crisis as its internal matter, External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee has said that broadest possible political consensus could help Nepal's democratic transition.

Talking to reporters during his poll campaign in Murshidabad district, Mukherjee hoped the crisis would end soon.

"We hope that the present crisis is resolved in a manner, which contributes to the early conclusion of the peace process," he added.

Meanwhile in Delhi, Minister of State for External Affairs Anand Sharma has said that India has not interfered in the internal affairs of Nepal.

Sharma also hoped that the process of democratic transition would be taken to a logical conclusion and also peace-building efforts will continue in Nepal.

"India has not interfered and has no intention of interfering in Nepal's internal affairs. I may say that it was the internal Conesus or the understanding of the political parties of Nepal which has unfortunately broken down and we hope that the process of democratic transition, would be taken to a logical conclusion," he added.

Nepal was roiled in crisis after Prime Minister Prachanda resigned on Monday over his decision to sack Army Chief Rookmangud Katawal was vetoed by President Ram Baran Yadav.

Relations between the army and the government were strained earlier this year when the military resisted integrating the former guerrillas, saying they are politically indoctrinated.

Prachanda argued that the integration of the rebels was stipulated by the peace agreement.

Prachanda's Communist Party of Nepal-Maoist won elections last year after ending a 10-year insurgency under a 2006 accord.

The first act of the newly elected parliament last year was to abolish the 240-year-old monarchy

Prachanda's resignation leaves the country without a functioning government and will delay the process of drafting a Constitution for the nascent republic. (ANI)