Saturday, February 12 2005 17:55 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Kolkata: The pro-left human rights group, Nepali Janadhikar Suraksha Samity, today (Feb 12, 2005) said the monarchy in Nepal has lost the confidence of an 'overwhelming majority' of its people, but was managing to survive with the military, political and economic support of India and the US.

"The military, political and economic support provided by the US and Indian Government is the single most cause for the survival of the dictatorial monarchy in Nepal, despite losing the support of an overwhelming majority of its 25 million people," Samity central committee president Laxman Shah said in a statement in Kolkata.

In order to protect the 'feudal and dictatorial' regime in Nepal, the US was steadily pouring in arms and ammunition, besides millions of dollars in financial aid, on the 'pretext' of suppressing Marxist rebellion, Shah said, adding, "This is resulting in mass killings of the people and democracy itself.

"For realising political, military and economic goals, the US has no objection in embracing dictators like Pervez Musharraf of Pakistan and the feudal monarchy in Nepal. As far as the monarchy is concerned, the Indian Government is playing the same role as the US by fully endorsing its rule and supporting it politically and militarily," he said.

Shah said that his organisation would hold rallies in Kolkata, Chandigarh, Delhi, Mumbai and Chennai tomorrow (Feb 13, 2005) in protest against the Royal takeover and to support the pro-democracy movement in that country.