Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’, Prime Minister of Nepal, will visit India from 15-18 September, 2016 at the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. This would be Prime Minister Prachanda’s first bilateral visit abroad after assuming office in August 2016, and he will be accompanied by a high level delegation.
Talks with Prime Minister Modi will take place on 16th September with the aim of improving the countries’ strained bilateral relations. Nepal’s ties with India had strained after a months-long border blockade last year by the ethnic minority protesters over the new Constitution, which they claimed was discriminatory. The previous government had accused India of imposing an “unofficial blockade” to support the Madhesi ethnic group’s call for more political representation.
The Nepali President Prachanda stated that “I am confident that the visit (to India) would not only normalise the relations that went through some bitter experience in the recent past, but also build a strong foundation for mutual trust.” He said that the items highest on the agenda were post-quake reconstruction, hydropower trade agreements and a Postal Highway.