Manmohan receives Nepal PM at airport

NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, in a now-familiar protocol departure, on Tuesday received Nepalese prime minister Girija Prasad Koirala at the Indira Gandhi International Airport.

The last time Mr Singh broke protocol was when he received US president George W Bush at the airport. This time too it indicated the importance New Delhi attaches to the goodwill visit by Mr Koirala, who is here with a 41-member high-level delegation on a four-day trip.

Mr Koirala, who is on his first trip abroad after he took over as prime minister, has brought along with him minister for physical planning and construction Gopal Man Shrestha, minister for agriculture and cooperatives Mahanta Thakur, minister for finance Ram Sharan Mahat and minister for local development Rajendra Prasad Pandey.

Mr Koirala will meet Mr Singh for talks on Wednesday morning. Over four days, he will meet President APJ Abdul Kalam, vice-president Bhairon Singh Shekhawat, home minister Shivraj Patil, defence minister Pranab Mukherjee, UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi and opposition leader LK Advani. Mr Koirala will also call on former Prime Minister Chandrashekhar with whom he shares close ties.

The Nepalese foreign ministry said in Kathmandu that Mr Koirala would take the opportunity to thank India and its people for the support extended to the movement for the restoration of democracy.

But the main issue surrounding the visit remains the economic aid package that India has been putting together to help Nepal tide over its financial crisis. India is likely to announce the package during this trip.

Another issue that may come up is the resumption of defence supplies to the Nepalese government. Talks are also likely on political issues, including Maoists laying down their arms and the role India can now play to help Nepal during its transition.

Back home, Maoists have asked Mr Koirala to raise the issue of the release of their cadre from Indian jails. The Nepali Congress leader is heading a seven-party alliance government that took over after king Gyanendra after a popular uprising.