KATHMANDU – Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ is visiting India to attend the swearing-in ceremony of Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi, on Sunday.
PM Dahal is embarking on the official visit at the cordial invitation of Indian PM Modi, according to Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The swearing-in ceremony is being held on June 9 in New Delhi. PM Dahal will be accompanied by his daughter Ganga Dahal, Minister for Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs, Padam Giri, and high-ranking officials of the government.
He is returning home on June 10. Meanwhile, an official at the Nepali Embassy in New Delhi informed that PM Dahal would hold a brief meeting with his Indian counterpart Modi on Sunday itself. PM Dahal had held an official visit to India a year back. Last Wednesday, PM Dahal had a telephonic conversation with his Indian counterpart upon the latter’s victory in recent Lok Sabha election.
On the occasion, they talked on mutual cooperation and common interests. PM Dahal said he was ready to strengthen relations between Nepal and India, while Indian PM Modi thanked Dahal for warm congratulations. The electoral alliance called National Democratic Alliance (NDA) led by PM Modi had secured 293 seats for the Lok Sabha election held in seven phases in India, while Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) alone got 240 seats.
With the support of NDA, BJP leader Modi is scheduled to take the oath of office for the straight third term on Sunday afternoon, according to the Indian media. Indian President Draupadi Murmu is administering the oath of office to PM Modi amidst a special function being organized at the Rastrapati Bhawan, New Delhi. The Heads of states and governments from Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Bhutan, and Mauritius were also invited by the Indian government to attend the swearing-in ceremony.