Nepal PM Oli's visit 'will boost ties; help resolve differences': Indian ambassador

Kathmandu: Nepalese Prime Minister K P Oli’s maiden India visit will be “successful” in strengthening ties and help in resolving differences that cropped up over the protests by Madhesis, the Indian envoy here said on 17 February. Speaking at an interaction organised at the Reporters’ Club in the capital, India’s Ambassador to Nepal Ranjit Rae said India is giving high priority to Prime Minister Oli’s six-day visit starting 19 February “We are happy that the Prime Minister’s maiden visit will be to India. PM Oli’s visit to India will be successful, productive, and fruitful,” he said. The Indian Ambassador said the visit would further strengthen the relationship between Nepal and India. [caption id=“attachment_2546712” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Nepal’s Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli. AFP[/caption] The visit would help resolve the differences that emerged between the two countries of late, Rae was quoted as saying by The Himalayan Times. He said the Nepalese government’s decision to form a political mechanism to resolve the issue of demarcation of provincial boundaries was laudable. He advised that Nepal should settle its internal problems through talks. Oli had earlier announced that he would not visit India unless the border blockade was lifted. Nepal alleged that the blockade in its southern border with India was imposed by Indian authorities as they were backing the agitation led by Madhesis — a charge India had vehemently denied. The United Democratic Madhesi Front, the four-party alliance, officially announced withdrawal of their protests including the border blockade earlier this month. The front had launched an indefinite agitation protesting against the new Constitution promulgated on September 20 last year, saying it failed to address their concerns over representation and homeland. PTI