Nepal Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli said the main focus of his first visit to India, taking place in “complex and special circumstances”, is on building trust after differences cropped up in bilateral ties due to protests over the new Constitution.
Addressing a press conference ahead of his six-day India visit, Oli said;
“To gain friendship is also a gain and we will get much more than that (from the visit),” the 63-year-old Communist leader said. He said he has no specific agenda for the talks as the visit is taking place in “complex and special circumstances”. “The main focus of the visit will be to create a favourable situation and build trust,” Oli asserted.
Oli refuted allegations that he played the “China card” against India in the wake of the border blockade due to protests by Madhesis that caused a severe shortage of essential goods, including petrol and cooking gas, in the country.
Earlier some reports had said that Oli could visit China before India due to hiccups in Indo-Nepal ties over the Madhesi issue. Amid strain in Indo-Nepal ties, China was seen by analysts as getting closer to Nepal especially by providing essential goods to the crisis-hit nation. Oli has also said that he will visit China within a month after his India trip as part of his government’s policy to enhance cooperation with immediate neighbours.
Among others, two MoUs – one on the $1 billion line of credit that India committed to Nepal during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit and another on $1 billion that India pledged during External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj’s trip for the country’s post-earthquake reconstruction – will be signed during Oli’s visit, the sources said.
Oli responded to a question posed at the conference saying India has already welcomed the amendments made in their Constitution – which was promulgated on 20 September last year – by saying that it was a positive development.
Oli’s visit comes after a period of strain in ties over the protests by Madhesis, mostly of Indian-origin.
Nepal alleged that the blockade in its southern border with India was imposed by Indian authorities as they were backing the agitation led by Madhesis, a charge India vehemently denied.
The United Democratic Madhesi Front, the four-party alliance, officially announced the withdrawal of their protests including the border blockade earlier this month.
Earlier some reports had said that Oli could visit China before India due to hiccups in Indo-Nepal ties over the Madhesi issue.
(With inputs from agencies.)
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