Nepal PM Prachanda likley to visit India ahead of China

From Shirish B Pradhan Kathmandu, Aug 18 (PTI) Prachanda is likely to visit Indiaon his first official foreign trip as Nepal’s prime minister,in a departure from his earlier practice when he visitedBeijing ahead of New Delhi in 2008. The Maoist chief, who was elected by lawmakers to the toppost for the second time earlier this month, had rubbed Indiathe wrong way when he chose China as his first destinationafter taking over as the premier in 2008 and attended theBeijing Olympics that year. Prachanda’s predecessor, KP Sharma Oli too visited Indiaas his first official foreign destination. But the run up tohis visit was surrounded by intense speculation that theCommunist leader might visit China ahead of India. Oli, viewed by many as pro-China, visited India inFebruary, when the agitation by Madhesis – inhabitants of thesouthern plains who share strong cultural and family bondswith Indians – over Nepal’s new Constitution was at its peak. The protesters had blocked trade transit points withIndia, creating a huge shortage of essential goods and fuel inthe landlocked Nepal. The usual practice of new prime ministers in Nepal is tovisit to India, ahead of China. Prachanda’s China trip in 2008was the only departure from that practice. It is learnt that he will visit India ahead of China thistime, sources said. The development comes as Nepal’s Deputy Prime Minister andMinister of Home Affairs Bimlendra Nidhi begins his two-dayvisit to India as Prachanda’s special envoy today. His visit is aimed at preparing ground for Prachanda’sforthcoming visit to India, foreign ministry sources said. Nidhi is expected to discuss the possible visit byPresident Pranab Mukherjee to Nepal and the proposed visit byNepalese President Bidya Devi Bhandari to India, they said. The visit is also aimed at normalising and improvingNepal’s relations with India, which was at an all-time lowsince the promulgation of the Constitution in Nepal last yearand over the Madhesi agitation. Prachanda has send a special envoy to China as well.Deputy Prime Minister Krishna Bahadur Mahara’s visit to Chinacomes following anxieties in Beijing over the fate of projectsconnecting China and Nepal to reduce dependence on India. PTISBP ABH AKJABH