Govt takes Left into confidence

After sending Dr Karan Singh as its special envoy to Kathmandu, the UPA government today took the Left parties into confidence.

Minister of State for External Affairs Anand Sharma had an half-hour-long meeting with CPI(M) Politburo member Sitaram Yechury during which he apprised him of the government's Nepal strategy.

The exercise was essential given the Left party's reservations over appointment of Singh, who hails from a royal family and may, therefore, find it difficult to win the confidence of the political parties in Nepal.

Although the CPI(M) leadership refrained from commenting on Singh, party sources said Yechury apprised the government of his party's apprehension about the success of the mission entrusted to him.

The government and the Left have differences of opinion about the solution to the deepening political crisis in Nepal.

While the UPA government is believed to have no objection to the "two-pillar" system in Nepal, with the monarchy and the political parties working in harmony, the Left parties do not subscribe to the government's views.

"Nothing short of a republican democracy will work in Nepal now. But the contours of this republic will have to be determined by the Nepali people," Yechury told reporters.

The CPI(M) leader hinted that he may not be averse to playing the role of an interlocutor between different stakeholders in Nepal and the government of India, as desired by the Maoists in Nepal. "Nobody has approached us to play this role so far," said Yechury.