KATHMANDU: Prime Minister (PM) Pushpa Kamal Dahal “Prachanda” has asserted that his four-day India visit has chalked out the future path to advance Nepal-India relations.
Responding to lawmaker’s questions at the Naitonal Assembly on Wednesday, PM Dahal said, “Let me clarify you with utmost seriousness and responsibility that I have put forth during the India visit the topic that relations between Nepal and India cannot prosper until the border-related problems are resolved.”
He said that even Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi talked about taking the Nepal-India relations to the Himalayan heights.
“The Indian PM himself expressed the commitment that the border problems would be resolved,” PM Dahal said.
PM Dahal also made it clear that Kalapani, Lipulek, Limpiyadhura are Nepali territories, and urged lawmakers not to create confusions on this.
On the issue of “trading off” Nepali territory, PM Dahal said, “I have not talked about alternative (on resolving the border problem).”
He clarified that he had only mentioned what the experts had said on that matter and urged lawmakers not to exaggerate the issue and create confusions among the public.
Prime Minister Dahal reiterated that his four-day-long official visit to India at the invitation of the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi was centered on further consolidating bilateral relations.
“Long-term agreements have been made in the economic matters,” he said, adding that positive agreements have been made in matters of trade, transit, irrigation, agriculture, cross-border petroleum pipeline construction, integrated check posts and infrastructure development.
He also informed the Parliament that seven papers have been signed and exchanged between Nepal and India during his recent four-day India visit.
PM Dahal added that Nepal’s transit facility has been ensured through India’s domestic waterway.
“A memorandum of understanding on construction of petroleum infrastructure has also been signed during the visit,” he added.
He also stressed that his India visit has contributed to making the Nepal-India relations multi-dimensional and further strengthening it.
Noting that he also held talks on resolving flood and inundation problems on the Nepal-India border areas, PM Dahal said talks were held regarding construction of a concrete bridge at Jhulaghat with India’s support and grants to GP Koirala Institute of Health Science.
Prime Minister Dahal also stated that the topic of bringing the Murrah breed of he-buffalo from India had already been decided seven years back.
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