In a 35-minute conversation with visiting former prime minister and senior leader of CPN-UML Madhav Kumar Nepal, Gandhi expressed her support for the political process in Nepal and the upcoming CA elections scheduled for November 19. [break]
“It is for the political parties to decide what is in the best interest of Nepal,” Rajan Bhattarai, Nepal’s former foreign affairs advisor, quoted Gandhi as saying, after the meeting.
Expressing support for the upcoming CA polls, Gandhi is said to have promised India’s all out assistance for the same. She has laid stress on the need for stability, economic development and peace in Nepal.
India has already committed logistical support to Nepal government, which was formalized during the one-day visit of India’s foreign minister Salman Khurshid to Nepal earlier this month.
Former PM Nepal, on his part, assured Gandhi that the constant and ongoing interactions between the leaders of major political parties will help end the transition in a logical fashion.
Expressing grief over the recent tragedy in Uttarakhand state of India, Nepal told Gandhi that all efforts in Nepal are focussed on holding the elections in November.
He also sought India’s help for holding the elections successfully and for ending the transition.
Nepal’s pre-scheduled meeting with Indian PM Manmohan Singh could not be held on Thursday. Although the reason for it could not be known, the meeting has been postponed for Friday morning.
However, Nepal held parleys with Indian Foreign Secretary Ranjan Mathai, followed by two meetings with Devi Prasad Tripathi, General Secretary of the Nationalist Congress Party of India and a member of Upper House, and Member of Parliament of Indian National Congress from Madhya Pradesh, Sajan Singh Verma. The leaders have expressed India´s concern toward peace and stability in Nepal and have urged all the political parties to work in tandem.
In the evening, Nepal attended a meeting hosted by Sarad Yadav, President of Janata Dal (United) party of India.
On Friday Nepal is set to address a gathering of civil society members, mediapersons, academicians and former ambassadors at Indian Council of World Affairs, a government think-tank based in New Delhi.
While Nepal was accompanied by UML General secretary Ishwar Pokhrel during Nepal´s meeting with UPA chairperson, present in the meeting with Gandhi was senior Indian National Congress leader Karan Singh. Singh is also a member of Upper House of India and is a long-time keen observer of Nepali politics.
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