At a time when Nepal is reeling under political uncertainties the visiting delegation of Congress (I), a major Indian ruling party, which arrived Kathmandu on Tuesday has intensified its hectic parlay with the different ruling and opposition political leaders including agitating Madhesi groups and tried to narrow down the crisis of confidence in Nepal.
The delegation led by general secretary of the All India Congress Committee Digvijay Singh held separate meetings with ruling Nepali Congress (NC) Sushil Koirala and former Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba, CPN-UML leader Madhav Kumar Nepal, CPN-Maoists chairman Prachanda and agitating Madhesi leader Mahanta Thakur on Wednesday and expressed their support for Nepal government and its people to make the upcoming Constituent Assembly election a success.
While meeting the NC leaders, the India delegation reiterated that Congress (I), which had fought against feudalism since its establishment, would never support the monarchy in Nepal, NC sources said. They also stressed on the role of ruling NC to bring disgruntled groups together to hold the elections successfully on April 10.
“We are very close to achieve the demand for a new constitution from B.P. (Koirala) babu’s time,” Singh said adding that everyone should try to resolve the differences.
During its meeting with CPN-UML leaders, the Congress (I) team said India would not interfere in the internal matters of Nepal and accept any verdict by Nepali people on the monarchy. Mentioning the Madhesi crisis needed to be resolved through a dialogue, Singh assured the leaders that he would urge the leaders
of the agitating Madhesi groups to sit for talks.
The delegation also called on CPN-Maoist chairman Prachanda and Terai-Madhes Democratic Party chief Mahantha Thakur and other Madhesi leaders today. On Tuesday evening, while talking to Indian correspondents in Nepal, Singh said the Indian government was ready to provide any kind of support to Nepal and make the election a success in order to institutionalise democracy, peace and stability, which Nepal had been longing for.
Urging all agitating groups in Nepal and ruling alliance to hold the election on time, Singh said, “Any postponement of election slated for April 10, will be counterproductive for Nepali people and its democratic system as whole.”
The team from India, comprising of Digvijay Singh, Joint secretary of Congress (I) foreign department Ranbir Thakur, Congress (I) press department chief Veerappa Moily, Shakil Ahmed and Jiten Prasad arrived Kathmandu for a 3-day visit on the invitation of Prime
Minister Koirala.
The delegation is due to meet former Prime Minister and senior NC leader Sher Bahadur Deuba and Rastriya Prajatantra Party chairman Pashupati Sumsher Rana today itself. The high-level Indian delegation is also scheduled to call on Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala before their departure tomorrow. It is learnt that the delegation will submit its report to Congress (I) president Sonia Gandhi and Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh upon reaching India.
