KATHMANDU: Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal today said that he would raise the issue of the Bhutanese refugees with the Indian leaders during his India visit.

Talking to the leaders of Bhutanese Movement Staring Committee at his official residence in Baluwatar, PM Nepal also said that he was willing to resolve the long-persisting problem of the refugees at the earliest.

The PM is leaving for India on August 18.

According to Tek Nath Rizal, president of BMSC, the prime minister pledged to raise the issue in every meeting with the Indian leaders.

“I’ll raise this issue at every forum and meeting during my India visit,” Rizal quoted PM Nepal as saying in the meeting.

The BMSC also submitted a memorandum to the PM Nepal urging the government of Nepal to take diplomatic initiatives, specially with India, to solve the crisis.

The Bhutanese leaders also demanded that they be granted political asylum in Nepal. They also urged PM Nepal to immediately form a high-level commission to solve the refugee problem.