By IANS
Kathmandu : As India celebrated its 59th Republic Day, New Delhi said Saturday it was ready to “politically, diplomatically and materially” help Nepal to ensure free and fair elections in April.
At a flag-hoisting ceremony at the Indian embassy here, outgoing ambassador Shiv Shankar Mukherjee said: “We are there to help in any way possible as per the wish of the government of Nepal.”
As part of its “material” assistance, Mukherjee Friday handed over more than 300 four-wheel drive vehicles to Nepal Home Minister Krishna Prasad Sitaula.
This is the latest batch out of more than 1,200 four-wheel drive vehicles and 14,000 sets of communication equipment intended to enhance the capability of government organs, especially Nepal Police, which would play a major role in upholding the rule of law during the April 10 constituent assembly election.
Mukherjee said India wished to see Nepal’s transition to a “democratic, peaceful and prosperous country” and reaffirmed New Delhi’s commitment to support the efforts aimed at creating a new democratic, stable and prosperous Nepal.
The envoy underlined the importance of holding the twice-deferred election on schedule and expressed his hope that the polls would take place this time since the peace process had progressed significantly.
India’s assistance for Nepal’s fragile peace process is estimated to be around Nepalese Rs.2.56 billion (about $40 million), in addition to the economic assistance package announced by New Delhi in June 2006 to honour Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala’s official visit, the first after assuming office in April that year.
India has also assisted the UN Mission in Nepal (UNMIN), which is managing the arms and combatants of the Maoist guerrilla army. Last year, 87 vehicles were gifted to UNMIN.
India has also provided containers to store the arms of the Maoist People’s Liberation Army.
For the April 10 election, expected to see the end of Nepal’s 239-year-old dynasty of kings, India has provided 80 vehicles worth about Rs.50 million and 200 electronic voting machines worth about Rs.900,000 along with accessories.
The economic assistance includes a one-time grant of Rs.1.6 billion for budgetary support, a soft credit line of $100 million to execute infrastructure development projects and a boost in India’s ‘Aid to Nepal’ budget from Rs.1 billion to Rs.2.4 billion annually.
India also waived Nepal’s outstanding dues on account of defence purchases amounting to more than Rs.1.6 billion, arranged for the supply of 25,000 metric tonnes of fertilizers to Nepal at subsidized prices and exempted all goods exported from Nepal to India from the 4 percent additional customs duty levied on all other countries.
Although the constituent assembly election was to have originally decided the fate of King Gyanendra, whose coup in 2005 caused the royal family to lose their popularity, the Maoists pressured parliament into amending the constitution and proclaim the Himalayan kingdom a federal republic in December.
The election is now expected to endorse the proclamation and start the official ouster of the royal family.