Click to play videoNew Delhi: CPM politburo member and Rajya Sabha MP Sitaram Yechury on Wednesday said he hadn’t got any “official” request to join efforts to find a solution to the Nepal crisis.
Opposition parties in Nepal have said they would like Yechury to negotiate with king Gyanendra.
When asked by CNN-IBN if he was ready to take on this responsibility, Yechury said: “India has already sent an official emissary, so let us see what will be the outcome of that. But we have really not heard anything official so far. But if such a situation arises, then we are willing-like we have in the past-to assist the process. But the final decision on what will be the future of Nepal rests only with the people of Nepal.”
Foreign Secretary Shyam Saran and Prime Minister’s special envoy Karan Singh are already in Nepal for talks with king Gyanendra.
Nepali Congress leader Girija Prasad Koirala, Sher Bahadur Deuba of the Nepali Congress (Democratic) and Madhav Nepal of the CPN (UML) reportedly want Yechury to talk to the king.
Yechury said India’s actions are not intervention in Nepal’s internal affairs. "I won't call it intervening because I don't think that India should intervene into the internal affairs of any country. But India has a role to play an influence," he said.
The political situation in Nepal has a direct bearing on India, and it was vital that democracy be established. “This was important not only in terms of the people of Nepal, but also for the stability of the entire South-Asian region."
On CPM's views on the situation, Yechury said, "We definitely think that India has an important role to play in ensuring that there is both peace and progress in Nepal."
"We have had this role all along and the relations between India and Nepal have been there for centuries. They have been extremely close and cordial. So, I think not only in India's narrow interest of security, but also in the larger interest of the democracy, peace and stability in the region should be ensured," he added.
(For updates you can share with your friends, follow IBNLive on Facebook, Twitter and Google+)
displayed with permission. Use of the CNN name and/or logo on or as part of CNN-IBN does not derogate from the intellectual property rights of Cable News Network in respect of them.