KATHMANDU: Indian Ambassador to Nepal Naveen Srivastava is scheduled to meet Prime Minister Sushila Karki at Singha Durbar this afternoon, in what is being seen as New Delhi’s effort to swiftly cultivate ties with the new interim government formed after the Gen-Z protests.
According to the Prime Minister’s Office, the meeting will take place at 4 pm on Tuesday. Ambassador Srivastava is expected to convey his congratulations to Prime Minister Karki during the courtesy call.
Officials confirmed that the Indian Embassy itself requested the appointment. “The ambassador will formally extend felicitations on behalf of the Government of India,” a senior PMO source told reporters.
India has also been pressing for an early phone conversation between Karki and her Indian counterpart Narendra Modi. While the call was initially planned for 3:15 pm today, scheduling difficulties led both sides to agree to Thursday at 11 am, PMO officials said.
Karki, a former chief justice who assumed the premiership following weeks of violent demonstrations, has previously acknowledged her affinity with India. Even before taking office, she had spoken positively about her relations with New Delhi and her admiration for Modi.
India was also the first country to congratulate Karki on her appointment. Modi himself, speaking from Manipur two days ago, extended best wishes to the new Nepali leader.
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