Wednesday, June 8 2005 15:05 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: India today (Jun 8, 2005) said the issue of supply of arms to Nepal would remain under constant review and would depend on the evolving situation in the Himalayan Kingdom.

"We (have) repeatedly said that supply of arms to Nepal is under constant review," Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee said on the sidelines of a Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce (FICCI) session in New Delhi.

The Defence Minister said India was constantly monitoring the situation in the Himalayan Kingdom and as and when the situation improves, like release of political prisoners did in fact take place, New Delhi will take a decision on the matter.

India stopped arms supplies to Nepal after King Gyanendra assumed power on February 1 and partially resumed it on May 10, hoping that "further and early" steps would be taken by the King towards the restoration of multi-party democracy in that country.

Mukherjee's remarks come two days after former Nepali Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala met him and urged that arms supply should not be resumed till mutli-party democracy was restored in the country.