Nepal President calls for strengthening ties with India

TIRUPATI: Nepal President Ram Baran Yadav, who is currently in India on a ten-day state visit, has called for a further strengthening of ties with India.

Talking to reporters after offering prayers at the temple of Lord Venkateswara, Yadav said: "I have prayed for the strengthening of friendship between Nepal and India in the coming years, and also sought the blessings of Lord Venkateswara to maintain peace, stability and progress in Nepal.

"I have prayed to the Lord that, 'give me the blessings that the peace and stability and progress and for the democracy. I have also prayed that Nepal and India friendship, from centuries we are together, so it should be further more deepened and strengthened in the coming years," he added.

He further said that he also prayed for a terror-free world and universal prosperity of mankind.

"No country in the world would ever aid or tolerate terrorism in any form," he added.

Earlier, he said he was hopeful that the political disturbances in his country would soon subside.

"Everything is under control. We are in peace talks so there is no problem. We will come out of this problem," he added.

In New Delhi, President Yadav will hold a meeting with his Indian counterpart Pratibha Devisingh Patil on February 2.

He will also meet Vice President Mohammd Hamid Ansari and Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh, External Affairs Minister S.M Krishna, Home Minister P. Chidambaram, Defence Minister A K Antony, Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj and Congress President Sonia Gandhi.

On February 4, President Yadav will visit the Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research in Chandigarh, where he will be the chief guest of the convocation ceremony of the institute.

Dr. Yadav will return to Kathmandu on February 5.

This is President Yadav's second visit to India after assuming office in July 2008. It has been organized even as Nepal reels under political uncertainty.