Friday, May 6 2005 08:43 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: Indian Ambassador to Nepal Shiv Shanker Mukherjee yesterday (May 5, 2005) briefed Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee and Home Minister Shivraj Patil about the situation in the Himalayan Kingdom as New Delhi maintained its military aid to Kathmandu would not resume till multi party democracy was restored in that country.

The envoy conveyed to the two senior Cabinet Ministers that the situation on the ground has not changed much even though the three-month-old Emergency has been lifted by King Gyanendra and a few political leaders freed, official sources said.

India's position on military aid to Nepal remained unchanged and it wanted restoration of multi-party democracy there it could be restored, they said.

Military aid, crucial for Nepal, was suspended after King Gyanendra seized power on February 1, imposed Emergency and press censorship and arrested top political leadership.

The ambassador, who was called for consultations on Tuesday (May 3, 2005), has already briefed External Affairs Minister Natwar Singh and Foreign Secretary Shyam Saran of the situation in Nepal.