 |
| |
VOL. 27, NO. 23, February 15, 2007 (Falgun 03 2064 B.S.)
|
|
INDIAN DELEGATION IN TOWN
A delegation of senior Indian leaders belonging to the ruling Indian National Congress arrived in Kathmandu on February 12.
The delegation was dispatched by the India's largest and oldest party to study the ongoing peace process, the forthcoming election and continued unrest in southern plains of the country.
Invited by Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala, the four-member delegation engaged in hectic parleys with key political leaders.
The delegation led by general secretary of All India Congress Committee and former chief minister of Madhya Pradesh Digvijaya Singh met with Peace and Reconstruction Minister Ram Chandra Poudel and Home Minister Krishna Prasad Situala on the very day they landed in Kathmandu.
Situala told reporters that the Indian leaders expressed their belief that Nepal would successfully manage the peace process and hold the constituent assembly polls on time.
On arrival at the Tribhuvan International Airport, Singh said that the CA election should take place on the scheduled date, April 10, as there is no alternative to the polls to make the peace process successful.
After meeting with Minister Poudel, Singh told reporters that it was the wish of both Indian Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh and Congress president Sonia Gandhi that the election took place at the earliest. He also stressed on resolving Terai problem urgently through dialogue.
The delegation included Dr. Shakil Ahmad, Union Minister of State for Information, Veerappa Moily, media chair of All India Congress Committee, and MP Jitin Prasad.
The delegation is also scheduled to meet with Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala, UML general secretary Madhav Kumar Nepal and Maoist chairman Prachanda, apart from leaders of Madhesi parties and Rastriya Prajatantra Party and Rastriya Janashakti Party.
