India assures help to Nepal to take peace process forward

Shirish B Pradhan

Kathmandu, Jun 21 (PTI) India on Sunday assured Nepal
that it will support Kathmandu to complete the peace process
successfully and continue its developmental assistance in
major projects like building trans-border oil pipeline and
railway lines.

"I asked India to help in Nepal's peace process and
the process of democratisation in Nepal and India's response
was very positive," Nepal's Foreign Minister Sujata Koirala
told PTI after her meeting with visiting India's Foreign
Secretary Shivshankar Menon here.

India has been providing help to Nepal since the
signing of 12-point understanding between the Maoists and the
political parties in 2005 in New Delhi and it has continued to
provide assistance in various ways till now, Koirala said.

She said the present coalition government-led by Prime
Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal also invites the Maoists to join
the government as we have no objection to include them in the
cabinet.

The present government will move ahead unitedly by
forging consensus with all political parties to shoulder the
responsibility of taking the peace process to logical end and
to draft the constitution, she said.

India has stressed on moving ahead the peace process
by forging understanding and consensus among all political
parties, the minister

Koirala said peace is essential for carrying out
development works so the government accords top priority in
maintaining peace in the country. The minister said she was
very happy that the talks were held in a very positive manner
and in a cordial atmosphere.

Regarding the border issue and criminal activities
along with it, she said, discussions were held on controlling
criminal activities on both sides of the border and to tackle
the border issue through diplomatic channels.

Earlier, Menon met President Ram Baran Yadav, Prime
Minister Madhav Nepal, Nepali Congress president Girija Prasad
Koirala, Maoist chief Prachanda and CPN-UML chairman Jhalanath
Khanal.

Menon also held talks with his Nepalese counterpart
Gyanchandra Acharya.

During the talks, they agreed to expedite the
development works under Indian assistance such as constructing
sub-high ways connecting Terai area, constructing pipeline in
southern Nepal to supply oil from India, to build railway line
connecting Nepalese cities with India, according to Foreign
Ministry sources here.

India also agreed to speed up the construction of 250
MW Naumure project to be gifted by it to power crunch Nepal.
India also responded positively to Nepal's demand to expand
transmission lines to import more power from India to relieve
Nepal from daily four hour load shedding.

Menon also visited Pashupatinath Temple and worshiped
at the fifth century old holy Hindu shrine. PTI SBP
SRU
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