People's Democracy
(Weekly
Organ of the Communist Party of India (Marxist)
No. 07
February 13, 2005
(Weekly
Organ of the Communist Party of India (Marxist)
|
Vol.
XXIX
No. 07 February 13, 2005 |
LEADERS
of various parties, at a joint meeting at
the CPI(M) headquarters on February 5, condemned the abrogation of democracy in
Nepal and decided to extend all moral and political support to the democratic
forces in Nepal. The meeting called upon the Indian government to make it clear
to Nepal that the “palace coup was unacceptable.”
Those
who assembled in the meeting to make their stand clear were, in fact, the same
forces that met in the 1990’s in India to call for saving democracy in Nepal
from the tentacles of the monarchy. This time it was something more than a mere
solidarity meeting in that a clear signal was sent to the Indian government and
a call given to other political parties to join this struggle. To this end it
was resolved to hold a national convention on February 24 in New Delhi.
The
full text of the statement issued after the meeting is reproduced below:
Leaders of political parties who, in the past, have jointly participated in
movements to express solidarity with the people of Nepal in their struggle for
the restoration of democracy met today, February 5, 2005 at the invitation of
the Communist Party of India (Marxist).
The meeting was attended by Harkishan Singh Surjeet, Sitaram Yechury (CPI-M), A
B Bardhan, D Raja, Pallab Sengupta (CPI), Debabrata Biswas, G Devarajan (Forward
Bloc), D P Tripathi (NCP), Prem Gupta (RJD), Swapan Mukherjee (CPI-ML), Anil
Misra and Vijay Pratap (Socialist Front) and Ravindra Manchanda (SJP). Abani Roy
(RSP), Surendra Mohan (JD-Secular) and Janeshwar Misra (Samajwadi Party) could
not attend but have conveyed their agreement.
The meeting strongly condemned the abrogation of democracy in Nepal. The King of
Nepal, Gyanendra, using the army has imposed an authoritarian regime by
dismissing the government. Leaders of political parties have been placed under
house arrest and communication links with the world have been shut down. The
meeting decried the army crackdown and repression unleashed on innocent people.
Leaders
of the political parties have decided to extend all moral and political support
to the democratic forces in Nepal and the people of Nepal who will not take this
attack on democracy lying down.
The meeting called upon the government of India that it should be made clear to
Nepal that this palace coup is unacceptable and demand the restoration of
democracy in Nepal immediately.
The
leaders of the political parties have decided to hold a national convention for
the restoration of democracy in Nepal on February 24, 2005 at 10.30 am in New
Delhi. Apart from those present in today’s meeting, it was decided to invite
other political parties and forces who are willing to join this struggle
expressing solidarity with the people of Nepal for the restoration of democracy.
