Gandhi expressed her concern during a meeting with the visiting former prime minister and Nepali Congress senior leader Sher Bahadur Deuba on Monday.[break]
´The UPA chairperson was concerned about the upcoming elections in Nepal,´ Bimalendra Nidhi, NC leader, who is accompanying Deuba, told Republica after the meeting.
In the meeting, which lasted 30 minutes, Gandhi also raised the issue of federal restructuring over which the last CA was dissolved.
´UPA chairperson was keen to know the type of federalism that Nepal prefers,´ Deuba"s spouse Arzu Deuba said, quoting him. In response, Deuba told Gandhi that federalism is a new issue in Nepal and all political parties will move ahead with consensus.
Federalism in Nepal has been an issue of keen interest in both India and China lately.
Assuring all Indian assistance in Nepal"s polls, Gandhi reassured Deuba of continuing Indian support in the ongoing constitution writing process and the peace process. Gandhi has also assured economic assistance for Nepal"s development once a new government is elected through the poll.
´India will continue its assistance to Nepal and seek further areas of economic cooperation,´ Nidhi quoted Gandhi as saying.
Deuba"s visit has been seen in New Delhi as an effort by India to re-establish relationship with its traditional ally, the Nepali Congress.
Political analysts in Delhi say that Deuba"s meeting with Sonia holds special significance.
In recent high-level visits from Nepal, Gandhi kept herself away from meeting with Nepali leadership. She did not hold talks with Pushpa Kamal Dahal when the latter paid a visit to New Delhi in May this year and did not meet with Maoist Vice-chairman Baburam Bhattarai either during his visit to India in his then capacity as prime minister.
Sonia was flanked by senior Indian National Congress leader Karan Singh and India"s Commerce Minister Anand Sharma.
Deuba also met with National Security Advisor Shivshankar Menon on Monday. However, the duo did not discuss India"s security concerns in Nepal. ´Menon discussed early peace and stability in Nepal,´ Nidhi said, adding, ´He did not touch upon the security concerns.´
Deuba also held talks with India"s Foreign Secretary Ranjan Matthai and held separate talks with Karan Singh.
In most of his meetings Monday, including with Foreign Minister of India, Salman Khurshid, Indian side expressed its desire that democratic forces should be established in Nepal.
´India is more than happy to help Nepal institutionalize democracy in the country,´ Arzu Deuba quoted the Indian leaders.
Deuba expected India"s cooperation in Nepal to sail through the challenging times. He also stated that the Maoists in Nepal are yet to renounce the politics of violence and sought India"s help to bring them into peaceful politics.
Deuba accompanied by his spouse and Nidhi attended a reception hosted by the Nepali embassy in New Delhi. He addressed a gathering of representatives of various Nepali organizations, student bodies and Nepali mediapersons based in Delhi.
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