KATHMANDU, July 14

Unified CPN-Maoist Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal today said he is visiting India to garner support for the new constitution.

“The main objective of my visit is to garner India’s support for the constitution-drafting process. The drafting process is in the final stage due to our efforts,” Dahal said while talking to reporters at Tribhuvan International Airport before flying for New Delhi today.

Dahal said India’s role in Nepal’s peace process has remained crucial since the drafting of 12-point agreement in New Delhi and therefore the southern neighbour’s support would also be important in drafting of the new constitution.

Dahal also said major parties and other parties have been discussing about deciding Pradeshes before promulgating the constitution. “Positive discussions are going on among the parties to finalise the demarcation of Pradeshes,” he said.

Dahal is scheduled to call on Indian President Pranab Mukherjee and Prime Minister Narendra Modi among other political leaders, government officials and intellectuals.

Dahal informed that he would also visit Gujarat to inspect the reconstruction works following the devastating earthquake there.

He said he would also discuss with Indian PM Modi about tripartite cooperation among the three countries — Nepal, India and China — as both the giant neighbours have taken the issue positively.

Dahal also urged the media not to take his initiative of garnering neighbour’s support for constitution in a negative way. His wife Sita Dahal, son-in-law Arjun Pathak and aide Shiva Khakurel are accompanying Dahal in his seven-day India visit.

He will return home on July 20 and would be at his Siraha-5 constituency on July 20 and 21 to collect people’s suggestions on the draft constitution.