NEW DELHI, April 21: India welcomed King Gyanendra’s decision on Friday to hand over power in Nepal to a seven-party umbrella organisation. Human rights groups however noted that New Delhi had stopped short of supporting the demand for a constituent assembly that could bring in the Maoists and throw out the monarchy from politics.

“We have seen the address to the nation by His Majesty, King Gyanendra,” the Indian foreign ministry said in a statement. “India welcomes his intention to transfer all executive power of the State to a government constituted by the alliance of the seven political parties, which has been in the forefront of the movement by the people of Nepal for the restoration of multi-party democracy and their democratic freedoms.”

The statement lauded the king’s ‘commitment to multiparty democracy and constitutional monarchy.