Heading#226 17 - 23 December 2004 24 southpages Rs 30 again The most intriguing thing about King Gyanendras visit to India is the timing and the itinerary
NAVIN SINGH KHADKA
he palace is keeping the discussed the Maoist insurgency T itinerary and purpose of and got Indian officials to admit King Gyanendras on- for the first time that the Maoists again-off-again trip to New were a common threat to both Delhi a closely guarded secret. Nepal and India. Foreign But enough of it has leaked Minister Prakash Sharan Mahat, out for analysts to wonder about who had accompanied Deuba in the timing, agenda and that visit, told us: We are still schedule of the 10-day royal discussing the agenda with the visit. This will be the kings palace. A constitutional third visit to India in as many monarch will certainly talk years, a period during which along the same lines as the neither the Indian president nor government. the prime minister has However, sources close to reciprocated bilaterally. King Gyanendra believe he will The visit comes amidst go beyond Deubas talking growing angst in India about points. The Maoists have made MIN BAJRACHARYA Nepals Maoist insurgency it clear they will only talk to the spiralling out of control and king and we all know rebels use indications here that the Indian soil, so that changes monarch may be contemplating things and the talks may an authoritarian adventure. The advance on these issues, visit has been penciled in and ex-army chief and Raj Parishad postponed several times since member Satchit SJB Rana, told September and although us. officials explained it was Unlike previous trips, there because compatible dates could are no pilgrimage detours this not be found there are time and King Gyanendra will indications that New Delhi had visit New Delhi and travel on to misgivings. capitals of states bordering Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Nepal: Dehradun, Lucknow, Deuba beat the king to it in Patna and Calcutta. Says Rana: September and it would have The king may be briefed there looked odd for King Gyanendra about Maoist activities along the to go so soon after. Also, since border and move to counter New Delhis line is support for them. The request reportedly constitutional monarchy and came from the king himself and parliamentary democracy in involves states where Nepali Nepal it cant be seen to be and Indian Maoists are active. discussing nitty-gritties with The composition of the royal the king. entourage has not been made Preparations for the 23 public but it appears to be heavy December-2 January visit have on royals and ex-army brass. been carried out in secret by the One India-watcher here palace with very little predicts that King Gyanendras participation of the foreign conversation with his Indian ministry. There is no specific interlocutors will centre on just agenda set for the visit, a three issues: his own role, the palace official told us, but His counter-insurgency war and Majesty will take up whatever hydropower. He adds: issues are raised. The three are actually In September, Deuba had interlinked. l
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Total votes:669 Weekly Internet Poll # 167. To vote go to: www.nepalitimes.com Q. Should the UML stay on in government? 2 EDITORIAL 17 - 23 DECEMBER 2004 #226
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