KATHMANDU: Former Prime Minister and Coordinator of Naya Shakti Party Baburam Bhattarai has offered suggestions on behalf of his party to Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, on eve of the latter's official visit to India.

Bhattarai has offered ten suggestions in form of points and sub-points in a 'letter' addressed to the Prime Minister. The former PM has suggested against Constitution of Nepal being a subject of joint-statement as it is Nepal's internal political matter, and therefore, it must be treated as such.

Likewise, it has been stated that the Nepali side should refrain from making any joint-statements on 'co-working' on issues pertaining to regional and international affairs since both the countries may have different perspectives and stands on much of these matters. Similarly, Bhattarai has also suggested that the term of Eminent Persons' Group (EPG) on Nepal-India Relations, that was formed during his Prime Ministership, must be extended to facilitate the EPG report submission, which if done in haste may not be productive.

The Naya Shakti Coordinator has forwarded suggestions on several significant issues like:

• The breach of 1950 Peace and Cooperation treaty
• The Indian side's negligence on timely release of Koshi water, through dam gates during monsoons, causing damages on Nepali land
• Feasibility study on possibility of operating a feeder-vessel in co-operation with India and even Bangladesh at Chatara in Koshi
• Removal of additional customs, non-tariff, para tariff, LPT quarantine, etc to minimise trade-deficit
• Purchase of power being brought from India (around 400 MW) through competitive trade in open market
• Recognise the geographic importance of Nepal as a facilitator for trade between India and China
• Propose to hold the fourth BIMSTEC meeting in Nepal and stress on importance of SAARC, among other suggestions

In the suggestion-note, Bhattarai has also extended best wishes on behalf of his party for the success of PM Oli's visit.