Nepal must resolve internal issues: India

As Maoists walked out of the Koirala government in Nepal, India on Tuesday expressed hope that all concerned would implement their previous understandings and resolve differences democratically.

"These are internal issues of Nepal, which are to be resolved by Nepal itself," External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee told reporters on his way back from South Korea after a six-day two-nation tour during which he also visited Thailand.

"We would hope that all concerned will implement previous understandings that underpin Nepal's peaceful transition and that differences will be resolved democratically," he said.

"The common goal must remain to enable the people of Nepal to choose their own future and the manner of their governance," Mukherjee said.

His reaction came after four Maoist ministers quit the government following rejection of their demand of declaring Nepal a republic before the Constituent Assembly polls by Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala.

The Maoists had issued a two-day ultimatum to fulfil their 22-point demand, including declaring Nepal a Republican state by abolishing monarchy and holding Constituent Assembly polls through proportionate voting system.