A friend of India, say leaders

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI, JUNE 2. The Congress president, Ms. Sonia Gandhi, has expressed ``shock and distress'' over the tragedy that has befallen the Nepali royal family. ``I have cherished memories of my many meetings with their Majesties, the late King and Queen of Nepal. That makes this tragedy even more painful for me. My prayers are for the departed soul and for the people of Nepal. May they find the strength to face this tragedy with fortitude,'' she said in a condolence message.

The former Prime Minister, Mr. I. K. Gujral, was ``at a loss to find words to convey the intensity of grief'' over the tragedy. Recalling his personal association with the royal family, he hoped that the traditional Nepali restraint and unity would tide the country over this testing time.

Two other former Prime Ministers, Mr. V. P. Singh and Mr. H. D. Deve Gowda, also expressed shock. Mr. Singh said the late King was a good friend of India and took active interest in its development. Mr. Gowda, in a separate message, ``prayed to God to give strength to the remaining members of the family and the people to face this unprecedented tragedy.''

The Samajwadi Party leader, Mr. Mulayam Singh Yadav, and other senior political leaders also expressed their condolences.

Expressing shock, the BJP said India would stand behind the people of Nepal in their hour of grief. It recalled the late King's ``stabilising role in Nepalese politics.'' The general secretary, Mr. Narendra Modi, said ``he maintained close links with India. As the only Hindu kingdom in the world, its religious, cultural and civilisational connections with India were deep and extensive.''

PTI, UNI report:

The former Prime Minister and Samajwadi Janata party chief, Mr. Chandra Shekhar, said the royal massacre had shocked the whole sub-continent. ``It is an hour of grief for Nepal and we share this grief,'' he said in a message and hoped Prime Minister Mr. Girija Prasad Koirala and his colleagues would cope with the situation.

The Sikkim Chief Minister, Mr. Pawan Chamling,

expressed ``shock and dismay'' over the killing. ``It is a tragic incident. I condole the passing away of the only Hindu King of the world. I pray his soul rests in peace,'' Mr. Chamling, on an official visit to Kolkata, said.

The Chief Minister of Bihar, Ms. Rabri Devi, and the RJD president, Mr. Laloo Prasad Yadav, said in a message from Patna ``... may God give strength to the royal family and the people of Nepal the strength to bear the loss.''

Expressing ``shock and profound grief'' over the assassination, the Janata party president, Dr. Subramanian Swamy, said in Lucknow that India should take steps to ensure the safety of Prince Gyanendra, who has been declared the acting king.

Dr. Pravin Togadiya, international general secretary, Vishwa Hindu Parishad, expressed shock and said, ``the VHP has lost a source of inspiration and a dedicated patron.'' In a statement from Ahmedabad, he described King Birendra a ``Hindu monarch'' of the only ``Hindu country.'' His family, despite exposure to the West, had remained rooted to the ancient Hindu culture.

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