All 'obstacles' in ties with India cleared: Nepal Deputy PM

KATHMANDU: Terming his India visit as "successful", Nepal's Deputy Prime Minister Bimlendra Nidhi today said all "obstacles" in the bilateral relationship have been cleared ahead of Premier Prachanda's trip to the country next month.

Nidhi had paid a four-day visit to India from August 17 to 22 as the special envoy of Prime Minister Pushpakamal Dahal "Prachanda".

Nidhi said his visit was "successful" in improving Nepal-India ties that were at an all-time low since the promulgation of the Constitution in Nepal last year and over the Madhesi agitation.

"All the obstacles in the bilateral relationship have been cleared after the visit," he said.

Nidhi's visit was mainly centred to prepare ground for Prachanda's upcoming official visit to India on September 15, the first foreign entourage of the Prime Minister after assuming office last month.

Nidhi who is also Nepal's Home Minister discussed the proposed visit of President Pranab Mukherjee to Nepal and Nepal President Bidya Bhandari to India.

The visit of special envoy Nidhi is the first high-level visit from Nepal to India after the formation of the new government in Nepal under Prachanda.

Nidhi held high-level meetings with Mukherjee, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Minister for External Affairs Sushma Swaraj and as well as Congress leader Dr Manmohan Singh among others during his stay in New Delhi.

Nidhi said he briefed Indian leaders and officials about Nepal's top priorities that included implementation of the Constitution, which was promulgated in September last year.

Nidhi said he discussed matters relating to the anti-constitution movement that was launched by Madhesi parties and amendment to the new constitution for resolving political crisis among other issues.

Prachanda had sent a special envoy to China as well. Deputy Prime Minister Krishna Bahadur Mahara's visit to China comes following anxieties in Beijing over the fate of projects connecting China and Nepal to reduce dependence on India.