Kathmandu, February 17

Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli is paying a state visit to India from February 19 to 24 at the invitation of his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi.

PM Oli, who will be accompanied by his spouse Radhika Shakya, will be staying at the Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi as the state guest, said a press statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs Kamal Thapa, Minister for Finance Bishnu Prasad Paudel, Minister for Home Affairs Shakti Bahadur Basnet, and chief adviser to the Prime Minister Bishnu Prasad Rimal will accompany him.

According to the statement, the CEO of National Reconstruction Authority, members of the Parliament, chief secretary, secretaries and other high officials from various ministries, media persons and representatives of the business community will also accompany the Prime Minister.

PM Oli will attend a reception to be hosted by Ambassador of Nepal to India Deep Kumar Upadhyaya to mark the 66th National Democracy Day at the Embassy of Nepal, New Delhi, on February 19.

As per the programme schedule, on 20 February the PM will attend the ceremonial reception and inspect a guard of honour at the Rashtrapati Bhavan.

He will then pay homage to Mahatma Gandhi at Rajghat. On the same day, PM Oli will hold an official meeting on matters of mutual interest with his Indian counterpart Modi in Hyderabad House.

Following the meeting, the Indian Prime Minister will host a luncheon in honour of PM Oli.

While in New Delhi, Prime Minister Oli will also pay courtesy call on President of India Pranab Mukherjee and Vice-president Mohammad Hamid Ansari. Some senior members of the Government of India will also call on PM Oli.

According to the statement, PM Oli is also scheduled to address the Indian Council of World Affairs at Sapru House and attend a function of the Indian business community. Similarly, he will hold an interaction programme with prominent Indian media and the Nepali community in India.

PM Oli will inspect Tehri Hydropower Project site in Uttarakhand and will also visit Bhuj in Gujarat to inspect post-earthquake reconstruction works there.

He will also meet some business leaders in Mumbai. He will return home from Mumbai on February 24.