Prime Minister Narendra Modi invites Prachanda to visit India

NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi today extended an invitation to new Prime Minister of Nepal Pushpa Kamal Dahal ' Prachanda' to visit India at the earliest while expressing commitment to strengthening traditional bonds of friendship and kinship.

Modi conveyed this to Bimalendra Nidhi, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Home Affairs of Nepal, when he called on him here.

During the meeting, Modi conveyed his greetings and best wishes to the new government of Nepal led by Prachanda and extended an invitation to him to visit India at his earliest convenience, a PMO statement said.

Nidhi briefed the Prime Minister about developments in Nepal where the new government took over recently.

Modi said the relations between India and Nepal were not merely between the two governments but between the people of the two countries and that India is committed to strengthening these traditional bonds of friendship and kinship with the people of Nepal.

The Prime Minister also said that India is fully committed to support the government and the people of Nepal in the post-earthquake reconstruction efforts.

Relations between India and Nepal went through a bad phase last year and the two countries are hoping to make a new beginning after the new government took over in Kathmandu.