NEW DELHI: Visiting Foreign Minister Sujata Koirala met Indian Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh and BJP leader LK Advani separately here today.

In her 40-minute long parley with the Indian PM, minister Koirala apprised him of the current political situation in Nepal, progress of peace process and government’s effort to bring the peace process to a logical conclusion.

“I requested the PM to provide continued support in our peace mission

as in the past as India has always been supportive of Nepal’s peace process,” Koirala said.

PM Dr Singh told Koirala that he wanted to see political stability becoming a reality in Nepal. “I want to see a stable Nepal succeeding in all areas. I also want to see the country’s new constitution being framed in time,” Koirala quoted Singh as saying. The Indian PM also assured the government of Nepal of full cooperation in all areas, including the peace process.

In her meeting with BJP veteran Advani, the FM informed him that though Nepal was slightly behind the schedule of the peace process, the government was trying its best to complete the framing of new constitution in time.

Advani underscored the need of timely promulgation of the new constitution. “Framing a new constitution in time is necessary to maintain political stability and restore peace in Nepal,” Koirala quoted Advani as saying.

Advani also said that all the political parties needed to come together to bring the peace process to a logical conclusion.

“The government should not change frequently,” Koirala quoted Advani as saying. Asked if Advani was critical of UCPN-Maoist for its recent political strategies, Koirala said the BJP veteran put his perspective in a broader term without naming any particular political party.

Koirala also informed the BJP leader that the government of Nepal sought Indian help in conserving Bagmati River. She also apprised the BJP leader of Nepal’s proposal of assistance and cooperation it has sought from the southern neighbour.

Earlier the Minister held a meeting with Ghaziabad Industrialists and requested them to invest in Nepal’s hydro power, manufacturing sector and service industries particularly, tourism, hospitals and education.

Koirala also said that government of Nepal needed the help of Indian investors as the country was planning to establish Specialised Economic Zone (SEZ) for the Indian investors.

She said she wanted to establish three to four SEZs across Nepal particularly in those areas where the industrial infrastructures were already in place. She said Morang, Sunsari and Makwanpur could also be SEZ. The government of India has already agreed to help SEZ in Birgunj.

FM Koirala told the Indian investors that Nepali laws regarding foreign investments were relatively liberal and therefore it was beneficial for them to start new ventures there. She also assured them of their security in Nepal.

“Investors should not worry about the political situations in Nepal. We’re making a steady progress on the peace process. That is good news for you and everybody,” Koirala told the gathering of Indian investors.