Dahal briefs Modi on domestic affairs, seeks support for local elections   



Nepal Foreign Affairs (KATHMANDU, 25 April 2017) – Prime Minister Puspa Kamal Dahal on Tuesday made a telephone call to Indian Prime Minister and briefed about the Nepal government’s effort to  take all including Madhesi parties on board in the election.

According to a press release issued by Ministry of External Affairs of India,  the two Prime Ministers discussed recent developments in India-Nepal relations, including the recently concluded highly successful State visit of President of Nepal Bidya Devi Bhandari to India.

”Prime Minister Prachanda spoke about the ongoing efforts of his government to take all stakeholders on board in the constitution implementation process” the report has mentioned. Prime Minister Dahal also spoke about Nepal holding the first local elections in nearly twenty years and requested for India’s assistance in this connection.

During the conversation, Prime Minister Modi conveyed the good wishes of the people and government of India to the friendly people of Nepal in their national efforts to achieve peace, stability and socio-economic transformation, and assured Dahal that India would extend all possible assistance for local elections. The two Prime Ministers reiterated their commitment to advance multi-faceted India-Nepal cooperative ties for the benefit of the two peoples.

Nepal’s ruling parties have registered a new bill in parliament on Monday to amend the constitution claiming to take agitating Madhesi parties on board. The main opposition CPN-UML has decided to request the government to withdraw the new amendment bill saying the contents are further regressive, anti-national and against the spirit of the constitution.

”If the government doesn’t withdraw the amendment bill, we will fail it” said Yogesh Bhattari, chief of party publicity department. The government and ruling parties have completely bypassed main opposition UML in preparing new amendment bill of the constitution.  It seems that Prime Minister Dahal has been in favor of getting Indian support rather than the support of domestic opposition.

 At a time when the leader of opposition KP Sharma Oli was demanding the written document on the constitution amendment, Prime Minister Dahal contacted Indian Prime Minister informing all the developments occurring in Nepal. ”Prime  Minister Dahal’s call to Indian counterpart in this crucial time is not fruitful instead futile. It shows who is the real master of Nepali Prime Minister”says Gopal Khanal, Foreign Affairs Journalist.

 


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