Nepal will curb anti-India elements: envoy

By Our Staff Reporter

NEW DELHI, DEC. 29. The Nepalese Ambassador to India, Mr. Bhekh Bahadur Thapa, today termed the disturbances in Kathmandu a result of ``media fabrication'' of alleged remarks made by film star Hrithik Roshan and asserted that Nepal would take to task the elements responsible for anti-India activities there.

Talking to reporters at the concluding function of ``Global Assembly of Educators for World Peace, Environment and Human Rights'' organised by the Indian Institute of Ecology and Environment and Indian Institute of Human Rights, Mr. Thapa said Nepal would not allow its territory to be used against India.

Describing the unrest as a ``non-event and non- issue'', he said Nepal was committed to ensuring that the country is not used for carrying out anti-India activities. He said if there was any evidence of Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence using Nepal for anti-India activities, the matter would be pursued vigorously.

Also, Mr. Thapa, said an inquiry had been ordered into the episode to ascertain whether some elements were pushing the case from outside the country and said that action would be taken against them as soon as they were identified. He clarified that the disturbance were caused by media going public about some alleged remarks by the Indian actor, without verifying the truth. ``Correct position could not be telecast since many channels in the country have shut down,'' he pointed out.

Mr. Thapa said even during hijacking a section of media was involved in one-upmanship and ended up in spreading disinformation. ``It took us almost a year to convince the Indian Government that we were not a party to the hijacking, though our airport was used,'' he said.

The Nepal Government has also decided to give adequate compensation to those killed and those whose property was damaged in the three days of rioting.

Talking about the ties between India and Nepal, Mr. Thapa said the people should not be swayed away by emotions as the bond between the two countries are too strong to be broken.

Speaking at the function, the former Ambassador and member of the Indo-German Consultative Committee, Prof. I. P. Singh, said if Asia has peace the world will also live in peace. ``Fear of a nuclear confrontation has maintained peace. It is not the presence of weapons but the desire to fight that results in conflicts,'' he said.

Prof. Singh said it was unfortunate that the world spoke for peace only after a catastrophe. The League of Nations and later United Nations came into existence only after wars.

Mr. Kartar Singh Bhalla, Counsular-General of Nauru, said his country was a victim of ecological disaster, though a number of experts from India were working there to overcome the crisis.

Mr. Bhalla said peace, environment and human rights were inter- related and evolved from a feeling of consideration for others. Anyone in any age can pursue human rights, he said while appreciating the role played by children in Delhi for creating awareness about ban of polybags and voluntary check on the use of crackers on Diwali.

Nauru is the smallest soveriegn republic of the world with a sizeable number of Indians.

A book Nuclear Subcontinent by Prof. Asiananda and Prof. Hakemulder was released on the occasion.

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