Karan Singh had told King Gyanendra to assume ceremonial role

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 NEW DELHI 002699 

SIPDIS 

SIPDIS 

E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/17/2016 

TAGS: PREL KDEM PHUM PGOV PBTS OREP NP IN

SUBJECT: INDIAN ENVOY TO NEPAL KING: ASSUME CEREMONIAL ROLE 

REF: NEW DELHI 2602 

Classified By: Charge Bob Blake for Reasons 1.4(B, D) 

¶1.  (C) Summary: As the Indian establishment debates the 

effectiveness of envoy Karan Singh's visit to Kathmandu, New 

Delhi is still reaching out to Nepalese actors to try to pull 

the parties and Palace together.  Speaking with the Charge on 

April 21, Foreign Secretary Shyam Saran said the King had 

responded positively to Singh's message, but acknowledged the 

king had responded positively before and then done nothing. 

Saran warned that Gyanendra was rapidly approaching the 

"point of no return" at which the monarchy itself was in 

danger.  End Summary. 

NOT AS SUCCESSFUL AS HOPED 

-------------------------- 

¶2.  (SBU) Indian envoy Karan Singh met with the Prime 

Minister on April 21 to discuss his April 19-20 visit to 

Nepal (reftel), and told reporters afterward that he was 

optimistic that the King would soon take a "major step" 

toward restoration of democracy.  However, Indian press 

reports, calling the visit a "failure," suggested that Singh 

and Saran returned early from Kathmandu after Gyanendra 

refused to agree to the demand to turn power over to the 

political parties, and instead pressed for his preferred 

option of appointing a prime minister of his choosing. 

Without any immediate results to report, Saran told reporters 

on his return that the visit had been a "fact finding" trip 

and Singh had only shared his "objective assessment" with 

Gyanendra. 

STILL PUSHING RECONCILIATION BETWEEN KING AND PARTIES 

--------------------------------------------- -------- 

¶3.  (C) In an April 20 conversation with PolCouns, Minister 

of State for External Affairs Anand Sharma reported that 

while the GOI was encouraged by the King's agreement to turn 

over power to a Prime Minister, New Delhi was not optimistic 

Gyanendra would call for immediate elections.  Sharma noted 

that the GOI continues to use CPI(M) politician Sitaram 

Yechury as a channel to Nepal's Seven Party Alliance (SPA) 

because of his strong ties to the CPN(UML), but did not 

suggest he would have any broader role to engage the Maoists. 

 Sharma met with Yechury and Nationalist Congress Party 

General Secretary DP Yadav (also a supporter of the SPA) on 

April 20 to discuss GOI policy.  Prior to his meeting, 

Yechury told reporters that there was no longer "any place 

for monarchy" in Nepal.  Sharma later met with CPN(UML) 

leader and SPA negotiator Jhala Nath Khanal in New Delhi on 

April 20, in order for Khanal to convey the SPA's reaction to 

Karan Singh's visit.  Indian media has also reported that 

former NDA Foreign Minister Jaswant Singh plans to visit 

Nepal with the GOI's blessing on April 24, adding yet another 

envoy (and perspective) into India's interactions with 

Nepalese leaders. 

INDIA'S MESSAGE TO THE KING 

--------------------------- 

¶4.  (C) In an April 21 meeting, Foreign Secretary Saran told 

Charge and visiting Staffdel Sheehy that Karan Singh had told 

Gyanendra that he was "fast approaching the point of no 

return," and facing a growing upsurge of popular anger. 

Singh asked the King to summon the SPA leaders, tell them 

that he will turn over executive power to a leader of their 

choosing, call for elections to a new Parliament, and help 

work on a peace settlement.  He should then step back into a 

ceremonial role. 

TIME MAY BE RUNNING OUT 

NEW DELHI 00002699  002 OF 002 

----------------------- 

¶5.  (C) The King responded "positively" to Singh's message, 

Saran reported.  However, Saran admitted, Gyanendra has given 

positive responses before but then done nothing.  If the King 

does not take immediate action, there was a good chance of 

the monarchy's role "being usurped," and the King could be in 

personal danger, Saran commented.  Even "his friends" may not 

be able to help him out.  Saran told us that the King said he 

may have a public message at 5 pm on April 21, when he would 

"announce that he has an announcement." 

INDIA ASKS SPA TO BE RESTRAINED 

------------------------------- 

¶6.  (C) Saran and Singh also met with leaders of the SPA 

while in Kathmandu, and asked them not to "overload the 

agenda with demands" if the King does reach out to them.  The 

Indian envoys discussed with the SPA the urgency of an 

economic development agenda for Nepal after the restoration 

of democratic government, and the need for "major financial 

backing" for the country.  India will "do what we can 

financially" to promote development, Saran said. 

COMMENT: A LAST MINUTE FRENZY 

----------------------------- 

¶7.  (C) The world has waited fourteen months for India to 

lead on Nepal.  Now, as the walls figuratively are crashing 

in around the King, the Indian establishment is in a frenzy 

of action that comes almost too late, but could yet pay 

democratic dividends if Gyanendra acts soon. 

¶8.  (U) Visit New Delhi's Classified Website: 

(http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/sa/newdelhi/)

(From Wikileaks, released on Aug 30, 2011)