Minister Koirala visiting India
Minister without portfolio Sujata Koirala is leaving for the Indian capital New Delhi Monday.
During her stay in New Delhi, Koirala is scheduled to meet Indian foreign minister Pranab Mukherjee, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Raj Nath Singh and other top leaders and high-ranking officials.
While in New Delhi she would also hold discussion with the BJP core group regarding the Constitution Assembly election slated for April 10, reports said.
Although the purpose of her visit is still not clear, as she is visiting New Delhi at the invitation of BJP president Singh, it could be expected that the issue of monarchy would also crop up in the discussion as both minister Koirala and the party had in the past advocated some form of monarchy in the country to prevent Maoists from grabbing the state power.
BJP, the main opposition party of India, has been favouring constitutional monarchy in Nepal as its sister organisation regards Nepali monarch as the “Hindu emperor” and the country he rules as the “world’s only Hindu kingdom”.
While it was in power in India, the party had listed the CPN-Maoist as a terrorist outfit. Since Congress (I) came into power in India, the BJP has opposed all moves to abolish monarchy in Nepal. nepalnews.com ag Mar 03 08
