National
Mukherjee ‘glad’ to see political process moving in the right direction
Visiting Indian President Pranab Mukherjee has expressed confidence that Nepal’s political process will reach a logical conclusion soon.Visiting Indian President Pranab Mukherjee has expressed confidence that Nepal’s political process will reach a logical conclusion soon.
During a meeting with Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal on Wednesday evening, Mukherjee, according to PM Dahal’s foreign relations adviser, said he was glad to see Nepal’s political process moving in a positive direction. “The way the political process is moving forward in Nepal, I am confident it will reach a logical conclusion soon,” Adhikari quoted Mukherjee as saying during the meeting.
Mukherjee arrived in Nepal on Wednesday afternoon on a three-day state visit.
While paying a courtesy call on Mukherjee, PM Dahal thanked the Indian president and people of India for their goodwill and support in Nepal’s peace process.
Details of the 20-minute one-on-one meeting between Mukherjee and Dahal were not immediately available, but according to sources, during the meeting, Mukherjee had enquired about political process in Nepal, constitution implementation process and other aspects related to the charter.
Dahal apprised Mukherjee of the latest political developments in Nepal, constitution implementation process and efforts being made to amend the constitution to address the concerns raised by the Madhes-based parties, according to the sources.
“These outstanding issues will be resolved through talks and consensus,” the sources quoted PM Dahal as saying during the meeting.
“I have learned that political process in Nepal is moving in a right direction where I hope political and constitutional process will reach a conclusion soon,” Mukherjee is learnt to have told PM Dahal.
Minister for Foreign Affairs Prakash Sharan Mahat said the meeting basically focused on strengthening bilateral ties. “High-level exchanges from both sides will further enhance and consolidate bilateral ties,” Mahat quoted PM Dahal as saying.
During the meeting, Mukherjee also said that the two recent visits of PM Dahal to India have helped cement the bilateral ties. PM Dahal made a state visit to India on September 15-19. A month later, PM Dahal was in Goa, India on October 15-16 to participate in the Brics Summit.
Earlier, Vice President Nanda Bahadur Pun paid a courtesy call on Indian President Mukherjee. The duo held discussions on a wide range of issues. During the meeting, Vice President Pun underscored the need of enhanced cooperation between the two countries in the areas of hydropower, connectivity and waterways, according to MoFA.