India told Nepal on Wednesday that it would support any “consensus” that is reached between political leaders to put an end to current quagmire in the Himalayan nation.
The issue was discussed during the meeting of External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid with the visiting Nepali President Ram Baran Yadav here on Wednesday morning. Nepal’s bickering political parties have been unable to decide on a consensual prime minister, with President Yadav having given them another deadline to reach a decision before he returns back in Nepal on December 29.
The political instability had started after the constituent assembly had to be dissolved in May due to its failure in writing a new constitution despite several extended deadlines.
Khurshid stressed that it is in “India’s interest” that Nepal progressed as a “stable, secular and democratic republic”. Khurshid also said that India would be making efforts to supply additional electricity to Nepal during the lean season. He said short-term measures to augment grid connectivity to 40-55 mega watt were completed. He assured the Nepali President that India was working on plans to further increase this in the medium term. Khurshid described Yadav as a “great friend of India whose support had played a crucial role in strengthening India-Nepal relations.”
In the afternoon, Yadav met President Pranab Mukherjee in the Rashtrapati Bhawan. Pranab said that India’s relations with Nepal is “deep-rooted and unique with no parallel.”
“It has always been India’s endeavour to support peace, stability and prosperity in Nepal, in accordance with their wishes. As a close friend and neighbour, India will continue to do its best to assist Nepal in its socio-economic development,” the President said.
In the evening, Yadav met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh at 7, Race Course road. He will meet Defence Minister A K Antony and Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde on Thursday.
On Tuesday, he was conferred honorary degree of Doctor of Law at the convocation ceremony of Banaras Hindu University, which was also attended by President Mukherjee.