Prachanda busy in diplomatic, political parleys before his India visit

Nepal Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal on Saturday intensified diplomatic and political parleys in the run-up to his visit to India.

Kathmandu, Sept 13 : Nepal Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal on Saturday intensified diplomatic and political parleys in the run-up to his visit to India.

Prime Minister Dahal met the outgoing Prime Minister and the opposition Nepali Congress (NC) President Girija Prasad Koirala later today. Dahal went to Koirala's residence at Maharajgunj in the afternoon. This was the first time the duo met since Dahal was elected the Prime Minister.

Talking to the media after meeting Koirala, Dahal said that he conferred with the former prime minister, who had a long experience of foreign tours, regarding his India visit. He said that Koirala advised him to do things taking into account that the visit is 'friendly'.

According to Kantipur, Koirala suggested the PM, according to a Nepali Congress source, not to sign any treaty and understanding that would have a long-term effect.

Earlier today, the Prime Minister, who is leaving for India on Sunday for his 'first political visit', met Communist Party of Nepal (CPN) General Secretary Jhalanath Khanal and Indian Ambassador to Nepal Rakesh Sood separately.

Khanal said that though there are no specific agendas, the PM's visit would focus on mutual benefits of two countries. Khanal also informed that he conferred with Dahal to finish off the conflict between the cadres of the UML and the CPN-Maoist.

Emerging from the meeting held at the Prime Minister's Office in Singhadurbar, Sood informed that the meeting mainly dwelt on the Nepali premier's visit to India.

The Indian Ambassador said that consultations concerning the country's welfare including review of the 1950 Treaty and crisis of the Saptakoshi embankment will be carried out, during Dahal's visit.

Meanwhile, the PM also held a discussion with senior ministers including Minister for Home Affairs Bamdev Gautam and Minister for Peace and Reconstruction Janardan Sharma.

Minister for Foreign Affairs Upendra Yadav opined that the PM's visit must be used to expand the political ties between India and Nepal.

In the past two days, Prime Minister Dahal held parleys with ruling coalition partners and other parties that do not participate in the government.

The parties suggested the PM to focus the visit on the Koshi Barrage, border security and financial issues.

During his four-day visit to India, Dahal will meet his Indian counterpart Dr. Manmohan Singh, President Pratibha Patil, and Vice President Mohammad Hamid Ansari.

He is also scheduled to meet Congress Party Chairman Sonia Gandhi, opposition leader Lal Krishna Advani, Rastriya Janata Dal (RJD), Janata Dal (United), Nationalist Congress Party and the former prime ministers.

ANI