PM consults with parties on his upcoming India visit, says no deals will be signed

Prime Minister Puspa Kamal Dahal holding interaction with leaders of different political parties including the main opposition, Nepali Congress, at his office on his upcoming visit to India, on Thursday, Sept 11 08. nepalnews.com/rh

Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal today held an interaction with ten political parties - main opposition Nepali Congress included - seeking their feedback on the agendas of his impending visit to India.

Speaking at the interaction held at his office in Singha Durbar, Dahal said it would be a goodwill visit to the southern neighbour. He revealed that there's no plan to sign any bilateral agreements with New Delhi.

According to him, the visit is basically aimed at further consolidating the traditional relations between the two countries, and build confidence. Saying that the government wants to collaborate with all the parties in the Constituent Assembly, the PM also underlined the need for political consensus on foreign policy and other matters of national interest.

At the interaction, leaders of some parties advised him not to compromise national interest while dealing with the Indian side regarding major bilateral issues. Some leaders are learnt to have suggested him to propose a review on 1950 Friendship Treaty while others asked him to discuss a solution to the tragedy caused by the Koshi dam in eastern Nepal as well as the border issues.

PM Dahal is leaving for India on Sept 14 -- in what he describes as his first political tour to a foreign country. nepalnews.com mk Sept 11 08