Nepal PM to visit India in February

Nepalese Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli will travel to New Delhi early next month on his first official foreign visit, his close aide said on Wednesday, scotching speculation that the Communist leader would visit China ahead of India.

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Kamal Thapa made the announcement, saying some agreements would also be signed with India to implement past understandings during his visit, amid hiccups in Indo-Nepal ties over the Madhesi issue.

Madhesis, largely of Indian-origin, are agitating over the new Constitution demanding more representation. They are also protesting division of their ancestral homeland under the seven-province structure and have led an ongoing blockade of key border trade points with India.

“We have very important and cordial relations with India.The preliminary preparations for the visit have been completed. India will be the first country for the PM to pay an official visit after assuming the office,” Thapa said.

He said Oli will leave for India on an appropriate time as the preliminary preparations have been completed.

The visit is expected to take place in the first week of February, sources told media.

Earlier, it was reported that CPN-UML leader Oli, who took over as prime minister in October, was planning to visit China in a marked contrast to the usual practice of the new prime ministers of Nepal to travel to India. 

Most of the Nepalese premiers have visited India, ahead of China.

Only Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ had rubbed India the wrong way when he chose China as the first destination of his foreign visit after taking over as Nepal’s prime minister and attended the Beijing Olympics 2008.