Envoy heads for Nepal with message

Indian Ambassador to Nepal Shiv Shankar Mukherjee will return to Kathmandu on Sunday to deliver New Delhi’s message to King Gyanendra, ...

Indian Ambassador to Nepal Shiv Shankar Mukherjee will return to Kathmandu on Sunday to deliver New Delhi’s message to King Gyanendra, External Affairs Minister K. Natwar Singh said this afternoon, at a joint press conference with British counterpart Jack Straw.

According to official sources, Mukherjee would draw the King’s attention to international public opinion—routed through New Delhi—against the Monarch’s anti-democratic act.

Over the last two days, Straw conveyed to New Delhi his government’s ‘‘active consideration’’ on cutting weapons supply to Kathmandu. His visit is being seen as an exercise to persuade India to mount pressure on the King to restore democracy.

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‘‘The international community has come out strongly against the developments in Nepal. It is a serious setback to the democratic cause, and it is pertinent for all of us to be concerned,’’ Singh said.

Both Singh and Straw said, ‘‘There is an urgent need to restore normal processes of democracy and secure release of political prisoners.’’ Singh made it clear he didn’t want the people of Nepal to be affected by any action the Indian Government could take in the course of a dialogue against the new regime.

On February 14, Straw announced the British Ambassador in Nepal Keith Bloomfield had been recalled. ‘‘In this serious moment, it is appropriate for us to recall our Ambassador so that we may reflect with him, and with our international partners, on the way forward.’’

British Foreign Office Minister Douglas Alexander had instructed Bloomfield on February 1 to convey the UK’s concerns to the King. Straw had also said, ‘‘We continue to call upon the Maoists to end their violence, and for both sides to return to the negotiating table.’’

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Meanwhile, Straw signed an agreement with Home Minister Shivraj Patil on transfer of sentenced prisoners, renewing an understanding on deportation of illegal Indian immigrants from the UK.