During a three-day visit to Nepal which ended on Jan 17, Indian Minister for External Affairs S.M. Krishna held wide ranging discussions with Nepalese government leaders and had a one-one plain speaking session with Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’, the Chairman of the Unified Communist Party of Nepal [Maoist].
Krishna’s talks with Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal broadly focussed on border security and new development projects in Nepal. With Prachanda, the focus of talks was on the peace process and drafting of the new statute within the stipulated time frame’.
The Indian Minister told the Maoist supremo of the need to ‘rebuild consensus’ among political parties in Nepal to conclude the peace process and to draft the new Constitution within the stipulated timeframe. The Maoists, he reminded his host, should fulfil their peace process commitments, and said it would enable Nepal to complete its historic transition to a multi-party and inclusive democracy.
Krishna took the opportunity to convey his deep disappointment at the baseless attacks on India by the Maoist leadership and said such attacks ‘vitiate’ age-old and time-tested friendly relations between India and Nepal. It will have a negative impact on Indian public opinion.
Marking the Krishna visit, India has offered to take up developmental activities worth over Rs 830 crore in Nepal to give boost to the bilateral ties.
One of these projects is construction of a 680-km long highway in Terai region.
Krishna and his Nepalese counterpart Sujata Koirala signed the MoU on the Terai highway while officials of the two countries signed a MoU in power sector under which five villages of Nepal would be electrified at the cost of Rs 6.3 crore.
India agreed to provide 30 MW power as requested by Nepal. This will be in addition to the 20 MW that is being supplied at present.
India will assist Nepal in setting up a Central Depository and Clearing and Settlement System at a cost of Rs 5.75 crore under an agreement between Nepal Stock Exchange Limited (NPSE) and Central Depository Services (India), which was also signed in the presence of the foreign ministers.
India has offered a grant of Rs 100 million for electrification in five Village Development Committee (VDCs) areas – Kachanari in Siraha, Khajuri Mahuwa in Dhanusha, Bhagawanpur in Rupandehi, Phulbari in Dang and Taprek VDC in Nuwakot district.
