No interference in Nepal`s peace process: India

India on Tuesday said it is against foreign interference in Nepal`s peace process and constitution drafting process, as it vowed to facilitate the country`s transition into an inclusive multi-party democracy.

Kathmandu: India on Tuesday said it is against
foreign interference in Nepal`s peace process and constitution
drafting process, as it vowed to facilitate the country`s
transition into an inclusive multi-party democracy.

India expects the key political parties in Nepal to take
further positive steps in their common interest to achieve
objectives of completing the peace process and constitution
drafting process, country`s Ambassador to Nepal, Jayanta
Prasad said.

"It is a process to be determined by the people and the
political parties of Nepal without any foreign interference,"
said Prasad during his first interaction with the media here,
two months after assuming office.

"During the visit of Prime Minister Dr. Baburam Bhattarai
to India, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh expressed his full
support to build consensus in Nepal for peace process and
constitution rafting to facilitate Nepal`s transition to an
inclusive multi-party democracy," he pointed out.

At critical times in Nepal`s current evolution the people
have shown the resolve to solve their differences and work for
a common national cause, he pointed out.

Prasad expressed confidence that Nepal will soon be able
to attain integration and rehabilitation of the former Maoist
combatants and the completion of the remaining elements of the
peace process and the framing of the constitution.

"These will enable the Nepalese people to achieve greater
level of stability, progress and inclusive growth which is
exactly the objectives we have in India for our own
development," Prasad said.

Nepalese people have simultaneously made three
significant achievements in the recent past, he pointed out
adding, these include transition to a republic, process of
attempting integration of an underground group in the
political and social mainstream and reinventing the political
structure by framing a new constitution, which is unique in
the world", he pointed out.

"It is the particular genius of the Nepalese people to
have managed this transition so peacefully."

"Dr. Manmohan Singh told Dr. Bhattarai in Delhi that
India and Nepal share bonds of kinship defined by geography
and enriched by history and added that we owed to our peoples
to build upon this foundation for the peace and prosperity of
the two peoples of our two countries."

Since our future and destiny are irrevocably intertwined
India Nepal relations are multi-layered and multi faceted, he
pointed out. As Nepal needs more foreign investment to achieve
economic prosperity the recently signed BIPPA between Nepal
and India will be instrumental in this regard, he said.

In a question he said India wants to help Nepal in its
efforts to build the second international airport in Nijgadh
near Indian border and fast-track road being built to connect
Kathmandu with Terai once Nepal government decides the
modality and terms of India`s involvement, he said.

He said India`s five railway lines are close to Nepalese
border and India is willing to help connect these to Nepalese
side in order to facilitate more movements of goods and people
between the two countries.

Pointing to the need to upgrade the Nepal India Peace and
Friendship Treaty of 1950, by taking into account the changes
of the 21st century he said "there will be no problem in
reviewing the treaty if there is political will on both
sides."

In a question he said he would consider his tenure as
successful if he succeeds to bring Indian Prime Minister to
Nepal in the near future. If the current political crisis is
resolved within a month we can work out the visit of our Prime
Minister next month, he said. No Indian Prime Minister has
visited Nepal in last 15 years.

Once the internal political matters are settled here it
would be appropriate for arranging an official visit by the
Prime Minister as Nepal needs support for achieving economic
prosperity once the political issues are resolved.

PTI

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