Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao wrapped up a three-day official visit to Nepal on Thursday, which focused on the country's political situation and bilateral relations.
During the visit, she met Nepal's entire top political leadership, including President Ram Baran Yadav, Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal, and Unified Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda.'
Elaborating on Ms. Rao's meetings, the Indian Embassy in Kathmandu said in a statement: “The political leaders of Nepal stressed the importance they attached to close relations between Nepal and India.”
Promises support
The Foreign Secretary “stressed to all the leaders that India stands for a democratic, stable, peaceful and prosperous Nepal. She also assured them of India's support to the constitution-drafting process while strengthening inclusive multi-party democracy in Nepal, and also for successfully concluding the Nepali-led peace process.”
During her meeting with Mr. Prachanda, Ms. Rao is learnt to have asked him about his party's “anti-India” stance. Mr. Prachanda clarified that the Maoists were not anti-India but felt that “certain historical issues like treaties” had to be looked at “in a new manner,” sources told The Hindu .
The Maoist leader asked Ms. Rao about India's position on government formation in Nepal, and expressed concern that India may be seeking to “isolate” the Maoists. She stressed that this was entirely up to Nepal's political parties, and that India was willing to work with any government in Nepal.
