5-party team to visit Nepal

In a move to help consolidate forces of democracy, a delegation of political parties is leaving for Nepal tomorrow to show solidarity with the seven-party alliance of Nepalese political parties.

Depending on the situation in Kathmandu, the Indian delegation, comprising representative of the Congress, the CPI, the CPI(M), the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and the Janata Dal(S) may address a rally or a political meeting. The delegation will return on September 30.

Significantly, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has not been invited to be a part of the group. The idea, mooted by veteran socialist leader Surendra Mohan and NCP general secretary DP Tripathi, aims at bringing together the 7-party Nepalese alliance and as many non-BJP parties as possible to see how forces of democracy in Nepal can be strengthened.

The meeting is being kept hush hush because it is quite awkward. At least one member of the delegation, CPI(M) representative Sitaram Yechury, is also an MP. His Majesty, King Gyanendra's government has been coming down heavily on those who are critical of the monarchy.

Several Nepalese scholars, activists and political leaders going abroad have been offloaded from their planes just before takeoff. If Yechury or other leaders are arrested upon landing at the Tribhuvan International airport, it can cause international trouble.

Officially, the Indian government does not know of the trip. Unofficially, the government is not making moves to deter the leaders from going to Nepal. This is the first visit Indian political leaders will be making to Nepal after the King assumed power on February 1 this year.

Much has changed between then and now. The Maoists have declared a unilateral three month cease-fire but the Royal Nepal Army continues to hunt down militants.

This has prompted civil society institutions to join the 7-party alliance, comprising the two factions of the Nepali Congress, the two Communist parties, the Sadbhavana Party and the People's Front.

Street meetings, strikes and public protests are being organised virtually every day in Kathmandu Valley. "We are in touch with the Nepal Democracy Solidarity Committee. We are guided by our hosts. If they want us to address public meetings we will. But this visit is to hear about their plans and find out how they want our help," said CPI leader D Raja.

The BJP, which believes Nepal must have its own model of democracy and has refused to criticise the King's actions, has been kept out of the committee for obvious reasons.