NEW DELHI, April 24: Former Indian foreign minister Kunwar Natwar Singh on Monday slammed his country’s slothful response to the upheaval in Nepal, saying Delhi’s policy of ‘not so masterly inactivity’ had failed the Nepalese.

The strong words from the marginalised Congress party veteran followed media criticism of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s apparent support for King Gyanendra’s failed peace overtures to his protesting political rivals.

“We have let the people of Nepal down, lost the goodwill of the seven parties, earned the annoyance of the Maoists and received no kudos from King Gyanendra,” Mr Singh said in a statement.

This is the first time Mr Singh, who was forced to quit as foreign minister five months ago for his alleged involvement in Iraq’s oil-for-food scam, has come out against the government’s policy on Nepal.

Mr Singh said: “Our not so masterly inactivity in Nepal has not succeeded.” Dr Karan Singh, who met the king in Kathmandu last week as Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s special envoy, tried ‘but it was too late’, Natwar Singh added.

“What can India do now. Too much is at stake in geopolitical terms. We should be the leading player. Why are we not?” he asked.