Nepal’s PM on six-day visit to India from tomorrow

The Nepali head of the federal government, who’s embarking on the India visit with a forty six-member delegation, additional stated that no settlement towards national welfare shall be concluded throughout his visit.

The UDMF officially announced withdrawal of their protests including the border blockade earlier this month.

Mr Oli visit is visit is taking place amid reports from Kathmandu that Parliament of the Himalayan nation has given a directive to him to not to sign any agreement that may have a bearing on the national interest, although, the legislature left it to the Prime Minister’s discretion as to what constitutes “national interest”. “I have the fortune of political consensus, sense of unity and collective determination endorsing our visit”, Oli reportedly said.

Yesterday, Nepal government declared energy emergency in the country, third time in the last eight years, to tide over the acute electricity shortage and unveiled plans to address the energy crisis within two years by importing 50 per cent of its requirements from India.

Promising to end Nepal’s internal problems soon, Prime Minister KP Oli on Tuesday said the proposed political committee to address the demands of the Madhesis will be formed before his fence-mending India visit this week.

Oli’s visit comes after a period of strain in ties over the protests by Madhesis. The Madhesis had enforced a almost five-month blockade of the Indo-Nepal border, crippling essential supplies, before calling it off earlier this month.

Kathmandu and New Delhi will stress upon and reiterate implementation of past agreements, focus on economic and technical cooperation and other regular issues of mutual concern during the visit, the officials said. He will also attend a presentation by the Gujarat Government on the relocation programme. “India invited the PM who was elected under the constitutional provision… that means India has welcomed the constitution in Nepal”.

Terming the inclusion of two amendments -participation in the state organs on proportional basis and delineation of electoral constituencies -in the Constitution as “positive developments”, the sources, however, said, “There are unfinished tasks which need to be completed and some more distance to be covered” for an inclusive Constitution.

During Oli’s visit, the two sides are also expected to discuss Indian aid for reconstruction after the devastating natural disaster in Nepal.

According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the prime minister will hold an official meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on February 20.

“The visit will be a historic one and fruitful for the country”. He also said Nepal should “not to look for other allies”, an apparent reference to China. “India is deeply concerned about Nepal becoming a sanctuary for terrorists, in addition to China’s increasing presence in the country”, he noted. This led to a huge diplomatic tiff between the two countries.