Himalayan News Service

Kathmandu, July 7:

Acting president of the Nepali Congress (Democratic) Gopal Man Shrestha met former prime minsiter of India Inder Kumar Gujral in New Delhi yesterday. According to chief secretary of the party, Jivan Prem Shrestha, the two leaders discussed Nepal’s political developments, friendly relations between the two countries and areas of economic cooperation during the one-hour-long meeting. Gujral extended his and other leaders’ “firm support” to the peaceful movement launched by the seven-party alliance for the restoration democracy in the country.

The NC-(D) leader had left for the Indian capital on Monday to hold political consultations with Indian leaders. Shrestha quoted Gujral as saying that the Indian leaders were confident that democratic process would soon return in Nepal. Gujral is also said to have expressed his deep concern over the ‘illegal’ arrest and detention of former prime minister and NC-D president, Sher Bahadur Deuba, and subsequent action against him. Shrestha also met Indian Finance Minister P Chidambaram this afternoon. The duo discussed the “difficult political situation” in Nepal and issues of economic relations between the two countries. NC-D central committee members Pradip Giri and Sagar Shumsher Rana were also present during the two meetings. According to a party source, Shrestha is scheduled to hold meetings with Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi. However, the schedule has not been fixed yet, the source said.