KATHMANDU, August 23: Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba is leaving for a five-day state visit to India on Wednesday, leading a 59-member delegation.
The prime minister's delegation comprises of four ministers, 12 lawmakers from various political parties and nine government secretaries. The official delegation does not include those in the accompanying business delegation.
The official delegation comprises his spouse Dr Arzu Rana Deuba, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs Krishna Bahadur Mahara, Finance Minister Gyanendra Bahadur Karki, Tourism Minister Jitendra Dev and Commerce Minister Meen Bishwakarma. The delegation will also include National Planning Commission vice-chairman Swarnim Wagle and National Reconstruction Authority CEO Govinda Raj Pokharel, secretaries of various ministries and 11 lawmakers.
PM Dahal begins state visit of India from today
Prime Minister Deuba is scheduled to address Indian business community in New Delhi on Wednesday. On Thursday, the prime minister will attend the ceremonial reception and inspect a Guard of Honor at the Rashtrapati Bhawan. He will then hold official meeting with his Indian counterpart Modi.
Prime Minister Deuba will also attend a reception hosted in his honor by Nepali ambassador to India Deep Kumar Upadhyaya and hold a separate interaction with the Nepali community during his stay in India.
Prime Minister Deuba is scheduled to visit Tirupati in Andhra Pradesh and Bodh Gaya in Bihar state before flying back home on August 27
Oli asks PM to raise issues of inundation in Tarai-Madhes districts
Meanwhile, CPN-UML Chairman KP Oli has asked the prime minister to raise the issue of inundation in the tarai caused by India-built dams and embankments during the visit.
Oli made the suggestion while addressing the parliament on Tuesday during special hour.
Although Prime Minister Deuba had invited all former prime ministers for consultation at his official residence in Baluwatar on Saturday, Oli had chosen to skip the meeting. Oli, who is a former prime minister, rapped the government for failing to inform the parliament about the India visit and justify it.
Oli argued that the bilateral energy policy unveiled by India was not in the interests of Nepal and that it will seriously jeopardize the prospect of the promotion of Nepal's energy sector. Oli also pointed out the need for Nepal, as the SAARC chair, to play a significant role to de-escalate the geopolitical and other tensions existing in the region.
Speaking during zero hours in the parliament, a majority of the lawmakers on Tuesday urged the prime minister Deuba to raise the issue of flooding and inundation caused by Indian dams with the Indian government.
Separately, Chairman of Naya Shakti Nepal Dr Baburam Bhattarai has urged the prime minister not to make any committment on Doklam issue, stake Nepal's claim over Lipulek trijunction and raise the issue of flood and inundation.
