New Delhi, March 18:

Former king Gyanendra Shah, who is on a three-week visit to India, today met

president of Indian National Congress and chairperson

of United Progressive Alliance Sonia Gandhi, said Shah’s personal Secretary Sagar Timilsina.

According to sources

close to INC senior leader Dr Karan Singh, the former king also met Dr Singh today. hah has family ties with Dr Singh. INC spokesperson Dr Abhishek Manu Singhvi said the meeting was arranged between the former king and Gandhi as the former sought to see the latter. “It was a courtesy call and should not be given a political significance,” Dr Singhvi said. The congress spokesperson

also said Gandhi decided to meet Shah as it would be ‘impolite and rude’ on Gandhi’s part if she turned down Shah’s wish to meet her.

Timilsina said Shah would leave for Kathmandu within a few days. He said the former king had also met chief ministers of Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat during his India stay. Shah also visited Somnath Temple in Gujarat and Gir National Park.

Timilsina said Shah was likely to pay a courtesy

call on some other political leaders in India in the next couple of days.

“This visit has nothing to do with politics. This is his private visit,” Timilsina said and added that Shah also had meetings with former Maharajas of Madhya Pradesh on his India visit.