Tuesday, February 22 2005 16:19 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Kathmandu: : India today (Feb 22, 2005) asked Nepal's Royal Government not to target its joint ventures in the Kingdom under the garb of emergency and demanded lifting of all press curbs, including on Indian news channels.

"We have expressed our grave concern for discriminately targeting Indian joint venture establishments including the UTL (Wireless Telephone Service), which has been restricted to operate its service since Feb 1, 2005 Royal Coup," Indian Ambassador to Nepal Shiv Shankar Mukherjee told reporters in Kathmandu.

The services of UTL phone, an Indo-Nepal joint venture, have been blocked indefinitely since the Royal takeover on February 1, 2005.

Mukherjee said the Nepal Government should lift all press curbs immediately.

"We want all press curbs to end including blocking of Indian news channels and Nepal One, Delhi based Nepali language channel."

After issuing press censorship in Nepal, the Government has told cable operators not to run Hindi news channels including Star News, Aaj Tak and DD 1 channels for at least six months. However, Government officials deny issuing any such directives.

India has joined other international communities including UK, USA and European Union member States in urging the King to reinstate multiparty democracy, restore fundamental rights and release all political activists saying that their economic assistance and military aid will depend on Nepal's response.

Official sources in Kathmandu said that no military assistance has been received from the donor countries after February 1.

India, which is one of the major suppliers of Defence equipments and logistics to Royal Nepalese Army to fight the Maoist insurgents, has in the past provided helicopters, arms, and bullet proof vests to Nepal under 70 per cent grant-30 per-cent cash basis.

Some of the foreign ambassadors, who were summoned to their respective countries for consultations following the developments here in Nepal, have returned here with messages to the Royal Government.

Mukherjee, who returned here on Sunday (Feb 20, 2005) after holding consultations with his Government, is likely to have an audience with the King soon.

India has already made clear its stand on the development, saying constitutional monarchy and multiparty democracy are the two pillars of Nepal's constitutional process and it wants to see restoration of democracy.