Nepal's Deputy PM Kamal Thapa is in India on a quiet visit

NEW DELHI: With no immediate signs of political impasse and Madhesi agitation coming to an end in Nepal, Deputy Prime Minister of the Himalayan State Kamal Thapa is in India on a quiet visit for wide-ranging consultations with the Indian leadership across political spectrum.

This is Thapa’s second visit to Delhi in less than two months’ time and had to be necessitated following the ongoing Madhesi agitation over the discriminatory Constitution that has also crippled Nepal’s economy due to fuel shortage. There are also reports of shortage of essential supplies like medicine in pockets Nepal due to agitation which is showing no signs of any resolution with the PM K P Oli remaining rigid on meeting demands of the Madhesis.

While Thapa went to Bangalore on day one of his trip to India on Monday for a religious program he was closeted with leaders from RJD, BJD and NCP in Delhi on Tuesday to deliberate solution. A meeting with Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj is also on the cards before Thapa departs for Kathmandu on Wednesday.

Thapa attended a religious programme in Bangalore which is being organised by Art of Living.

During his first visit to India in October within days of taking over, Thapa met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj in what was an official visit. After the visit by Thapa, Indian officials had agreed to re-route the vehicles carrying essentials and bring them to Nepal from those border points which are less disturbed. This has made possible supply of some 15 to 30 per cent essentials to Nepal from India.