WASHINGTON: King Mahendra of Nepal said here yesterday [Nov 2] that followers of former Nepalese Premier Koirala were still active in India. Answering a question on the imprisoned Premier, the King said that his release would depend on the behaviour of some of his followers who were working in India against the Nepalese regime.
King Mahendra also made it quite clear that he was determined to maintain the present system of `panchayat democracy` in Nepal which had brought peace, stability and economic progress to his mountain kingdom of ten million people.
The Nepalese Ruler, who was speaking at the National Press Club of Washington, declared while answering another question that Nepal had no military pact with India and the question of India defending her against `a Chinese attack` didnot arise.
Nepal faced no threat from any country, he emphasised to an audience now used to daily doses of propaganda about `a billion Chinese armed with nuclear weapons` threatening the other `billion f ree Asians`.
As for that road linking Tibet and Nepal a cause for much concern here -King Mahendra was equally categoric. `This road,` he said, `is essentially in the interest of developing trade and commerce. It will help in economic development. We do not regard this road as a threat to the independence and existence of Nepal.
He also reaffirmed Nepal`s position that for solving the problems of Asia and for the sake of peace in Asia, China`s admission to the United Nations was essential.
King Mahendra dismissed Soviet reports published in the Washington Press yesterday that China wanted to make Nepal a protectorate.
