Nepal crisis: PM decides not to attend SAARC summit
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NDTV Correspondent

Wednesday, February 2, 2005 (New Delhi):


Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will not attend the SAARC summit scheduled for this weekend in Dhaka.

This could mean that the summit might not be held as the SAARC charter states that all member nations have to attend the meet.

The summit was scheduled to begin from February 6. But now it appears uncertain after the dismissal of the government in Nepal.

On Tuesday, King Gyanendra dissolved the multi-party government led by Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba and declared emergency in the Himalayan kingdom.

The developments in Nepal appear to be the main reason for India's decision not to attend the SAARC summit.

India has strongly criticised King Gyanendra's move to sack the Deuba government.

PM holds talks

Meanwhile, the cabinet committee on political affairs held a meeting today to discuss the situation in the Himalayan kingdom.

The government's decision was taken after the Prime Minister held discussions with the opposition.

Earlier today, Singh called on BJP President L K Advani and former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee.

"All I can say is that we exchanged notes on Nepal and Dhaka and it is for the government to take a decision," said Advani.

The summit was postponed in December after three of the seven SAARC member nations were hit by the tsunami disaster that left nearly 3,00,000 people dead.