Kathmandu, February 16

Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli today said he wanted to forget the unpleasant things that happened between Nepal and India in the past and develop the mutual relationship to a new height by clearing misunderstanding between the two countries.

Informing the Parliament about his upcoming India visit from February 19-24, Oli said nature, geography, culture, open border and all other things compelled the two countries to move ahead together with mutual understanding and explore areas of mutual benefit.

“We have to correct certain things to avoid misunderstanding in the future,” Oli said.

Hinting at Indian concern about Nepal’s internal political disputes related to the Tarai, Oli said, “External community has been showing concern about our internal problems. We have already amended the constitution and are working to form a political committee that will resolve the issues of boundaries of federal units within three months. The boundaries can be changed on the basis of recommendation of the committee.”

The committee will be formed before his India visit, said the PM. The High-level Political Coordination Committee formed to assist the government under the chairmanship of Unified CPN-Maoist Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal is scheduled to meet tomorrow.

It will discuss the agendas of political committee to be formed for settling the boundary issues.

Stating that Nepal would start a new chapter on foreign relationships in the 21st century, Oli said that foreign ties would be determined on the basis of national unity and commitment. “This visit is in the national interest. It will not spoil but construct friendship. It is not for making allegations but for forging understanding,” said Oli, addressing the Parliament meeting.

The PM said he would hold talks with Indian government, private sector and intellectuals to attract foreign investment in Nepal, discuss areas of mutual benefit and enhance mutual relationship.

“Investment in Nepal could be at government to government level, government to private sector level and private sector to private sector level,” the PM said.

Oli said bilateral talks would focus on development of roads, hydro-power, education, health and tourism, promoting business, modernisation of agriculture and professionalisation of industrialisation.

He said administrative hassles in Nepal would be minimised to attract foreign investment.

He said he would visit one of the tallest dams in the world -- Teri dam in Uttaraanchal -- and see reconstruction and recovery of earthquake-hit areas in Gujarat.

Madhesi parties defer House protest

KATHNANDU: Agitating Madhes-based parties that had been obstructing the functioning of Parliament let the House run on Tuesday.

“We talked to the PM and put off protest after the PM promised to stop torture and arrest of agitating parties’ activists and withdraw fake cases against them,” Sadbhawana Party leader Laxman Lal Karna told THT after the House meeting.

Minister for Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs told the House that the PM assured the Madhes-based parties that the government would ensure that no protester of the agitating parties would be tortured or detained illegally, fake cases against anyone would be withdrawn and the government would ensure treatment of those injured during the Madhes movement.