Kathmandu, June 11: Nepal on Monday said there would not be any change in the fundamentals and basic parameters of its relations with India in the wake of King Gyanendra being crowned king after the palace massacre and asserted that it would not allow its soil to be used for anti-India activities.

“There will be continuity in relationship. Slight changes do happen in relations between countries, but the fundamentals and basic parameters will remain the same,” he said when asked whether the change of guards at Narayanhity palace would affect ties between New Delhi and Kathmandu.

In a wide-ranging interview, the 54-year-old Nepalese foreign minister Bastola voiced satisfaction over India’s response following the killing of the late King Birendra and nine other royals, saying New Delhi’s reaction to the events had been “very pragmatic, friendly, sympathetic and cooperative.”

Mr Bastola, a product of the Banaras Hindu University, said reports about Nepal increasingly becoming a safe haven for anti-India forces had been blown out of proportion in the same way as reports about anti-India sentiments in Nepal have been sensationalised.

The minister said, “We will not let our soil be used against our neighbours. We know that it will be against our own interests.”

Replying to questions, Mr Bastola said India and Nepal would have to graduate their ties in the new context of globalisation and other changes sweeping the world, while keeping in mind the factors that had guided relations in the past.

Terming as media build-up charges, claims that the new monarch was an autocrat, Mr Bastola said, “But I do realise that a pragmatic coalition has to be built for consolidation of democracy and perpetuation of constitutional monarchy taking into account fissiparous tendencies.”

Pointing out that the underground pro-republican Maoist rebels had become a formidable factor in the country, he said there was need for an understanding between the monarchy and the people in order to consolidate stability in the kingdom.

Asked about allegations that King Gyanendra had opposed introduction of a multi-party system during the pro-democracy agitation in 1990, he said, “Our perception about him should be from the point that he instituted a probe into the palace killings and addressed the nation pledging to uphold constitutional monarchy and multi-party democracy. Before that he was not king.” The situation in the kingdom, he said, was gradually settling down and returning to normalcy.

On the violence following the killings, he said, “The country and people have been struck by a very unprecedented and sad incident. It has taken them by surprise and grief, all at the same time.” On apprehensions about a Nepalese tilt towards China, he said, “We have to look within and see what has changed. In the wake of globalisation, changes are perceptible to that very extent in the bilateral context and both countries have to accept it as a reality.”

Replying to a question, Mr Bastola said his government was not very happy with the role of the media in general as the conflicting versions were creating some problems and confusion in the minds of the people. The minister, however, conceded that there may has been some communication gap and lack of coordination and attributed the gap to the fact that palace matters were out of bound for everyone.

He said there might be a section opposed to India, but one should not generalise. Even here, people equate the views aired on private Indian television networks with that of India.

He justified the arrest of Yubraj Ghimire, editor of the Nepalese daily Kantipur on sedition charges, saying freedom (of the press) does not mean license. “No press in the name of freedom can spread ill-feelings with friendly countries or raise fingers at the head of the state. (PTI) How can you incite the army. There is a rule of law in this country to which even the press should subscribe to,” the Nepalese foreign minister said.
Mr Ghimire was arrested under due process of law, he said.

-- PTI