Kathmandu, March 31

Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli today said India would play a supportive role in Nepal’s development.

The PM is embarking on a three-day state visit to India from April 6.

“I am visiting India to strengthen bilateral relations. India will play a supportive role in Nepal’s development,” PM Oli said at a programme organised by Reporters Club.

PM Oli’s entourage includes ministers, members of Parliament, secretaries and other high-ranking government officials. PM Oli will hold official talks with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and exchange views on matters of mutual interest.

PM Oli also said China was ready to support Nepal’s development.

He said people should move forward in a united manner to achieve the goals of development. “The government is committed to achieving the goals of good governance and prosperity,” the PM added. “We will give impetus to development because if we do not do that we cannot achieve the goals of sustainable development.”

Former prime minister and CPN-Maoist Centre Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal said there was a tendency in the past to project someone as pro-India, pro-China or pro-Monarch. “We are pro-Nepal and pro-Nepali,” he said and added that Nepalis should benefit from both neighbours’ development.

Referring to his meeting with Indian PM Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping during his Goa visit in 2016, Dahal said Nepal should move forward in the new era by balancing relations with India and China. Dahal said Nepal wanted to maintain good relations with both neighbours.

PM Oli warned the Netra Bikram Chand-led Nepal Communist Party not to do childish things. The Chand-led party had recently served summons to PM Oli and Dahal to appear before its people’s court in Rolpa.

“Using Sutali bomb to terrorise people is not ideology. Extortion is not ideology,” he added.

The PM urged all to start positive work for the betterment of the nation. He underscored the need for modernisation through science and technology. He also said his government would adopt a policy of zero tolerance towards corruption.

Ambassador of India to Nepal Manjeev Singh Puri said India wanted to see a prosperous Nepal and happy Nepalis.