Kathmandu, May 06: Denying that it interferes with Nepal's internal affairs, India has said democracy is not something which can be imposed from outside and advocated a key role for political parties in the Nepalese multi-party system. "There can be no multi-party democracy without the key role of political parties," Indian ambassador to Nepal Shyam Saran told reporters in central Terai town of Birgunj yesterday.

Rejecting the charge that India was behind frequent changes in governments in Nepal, he said "India cannot export democracy to other countries." He said the country being the largest democracy in the world, only extends its sympathy and support to Nepal and it is the people of any country who have to strive for safeguarding their democratic rights.

He stressed the need for forging mutual understanding and cooperation among constitutional forces in Nepal, in particular, the institution of monarchy and political parties, which form the basis of multi-party democracy, an Indian Embassy press release said. Saran denied allegations that India supports autocracy in Nepal for its own selfish interests. "India has undertaken important projects including the B P Koirala Institute of Health Sciences at Dharan and the east-west optical fiber network during the periods of multi-party governments."

Bureau Report