Karan Singh to visit Kathmandu as special Indian envoy
As the nationwide general strike and opposition protests are to complete the second week, Nepal’s southern neighbour India is sending Karan Singh as Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's special envoy to convey New Delhi's message to the monarch, reports said.
Officials news agency of India, PTI, reported that former Union Minister and member of parliament Singh will visit Kathmandu on Wednesday and is expected to meet King Gyanendra.
He is also expected to meet opposition leaders in Nepal.
Singh, who is said to have excellent relations with the Nepalese royal palace, is also the president of Indian Council of Cultural Relations (ICCR).
The decision comes two days after Indian ambassador to Nepal, Shiv Shanker Mukherjee, met the King and conveyed India's message underlining the immediate need for dialogue with political parties and restoration of multi-party democracy, the news report said.
Nepal has been witnessing increasing pro-democracy movement over the last fortnight.
India and rest of the international community has also been building pressure on the monarch to relinquish power that he seized by removing an elected government 14 months ago, the report added.
Expressing "concern" over the situation in Nepal, Mukherjee urged Nepalese monarch on Sunday to initiate dialogue with political parties aimed at reconciliation and evolving national consensus, according to reports.
Indian premier Singh also held a high-level meeting on Sunday night to review the latest developments in the neighbouring country. nepalnews.com by Apr 18 06
