Indian envoy calls on Nepal king

A few weeks short of completing 100 days""a self-imposed deadline for showing how well Nepal has been governed after the imposition of emergency""King Gyanendra of Nepal met the Indian ambassador today for over an hour.

His government will complete 100 days on May 11. The meeting was the first since the imposition of emergency on 1 February.

Responding to questions, a spokesman for the foreign office said the Ambassador shared the Indian government's assessment on the current situation and underlined New Delhi's commitment towards peace and stability in Nepal.

The government's view has been to see Nepal as resting on the twin pillars of multi-party democracy and monarchy. The government concedes that monarchy is a symbol of unity.

After the imposition of emergency, ostensibly to deal with the problem of rising Maoist influence, the government has taken a frosty view of what analysts believe is the King's real agenda: assuming all power in the Himalayan kingdom. Today's meeting took place against this context.

According to the spokesman, the King conveyed his views and his perceptions on the situation in the country, and recent developments. Several of the King's trusted officials have publicly launched a broadside against India for criticising the King's actions.

India has equally berated the King for locking up political leaders and has been instrumental in persuading the US, the UK and other nations not to provide military training or assistance to the Royal Nepal Army.

The fact that the King has met the ambassador after indicating that he wants to hold municipal elections, is a small hint that India's campaign for a return of democracy has succeeded to a small degree.

What is important is that the ice has been broken and contact established with the Palace.

While this could be a tactical move on the King's part, as leverage to meet Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on the sidelines of the conference of the 50th anniversary of Bandung in Indonesia later this month, it is also an admission that tension with India would hurt Nepal more than India.

Although the spokesman was terse in his comments, it is possible that Manmohan Singh and the King could have a meeting soon.