ID :
14632
Sat, 08/02/2008 - 09:29
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http://m.oananews.org//node/14632
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Mukherjee, Koirala discuss political situation in Nepal
Sagar Kulkarni Colombo, Aug 2 (PTI) With Nepal remaining without a formal government nearly four months after the polls, External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee Friday discussed the political situation in the Himalayan nation with its caretakerPrime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala.
"We discussed the situation there," Mukherjee told reporters after the one-on-one meeting which lasted for nearly30 minutes.
Mukherjee said Koirala will meet Prime Minister ManmohanSingh over the weekend on the sidelines of the SAARC summit.
The meeting between Koirala and Singh assumes importance as it takes place ahead of the formation of a new governmentin Nepal.
Nepalese President Ram Baran Yadav on Tuesday asked the Maoists, who emerged the largest party in the landmark April 10 Constituent Assembly polls, to form a government ofnational consensus within seven days.
Koirala's visit to Sri Lanka had plunged into controversy after Maoist leaders, joined by CPN-UML, opposed the visit saying the caretaker Prime Minister should not lead theNepalese delegation to Colombo.
However Koirala was allowed by Nepal's feuding parties, including the Maoists, to attend the Summit after heapologised for not consulting them on his trip.
Koirala, 83, met top leaders from the four major political parties-- CPN-Maoist, his own party Nepali Congress, CPN-UML and Madhesi People's Rights Forum, on Tuesday after which Maoist chief Prachanda and CPN-UML leader Jhalanath Khanal agreed that he could participate in the Summit They had earlier opposed Koirala's visit and asked the government to send President Yadav instead of Koirala. PTI SKU HMK
"We discussed the situation there," Mukherjee told reporters after the one-on-one meeting which lasted for nearly30 minutes.
Mukherjee said Koirala will meet Prime Minister ManmohanSingh over the weekend on the sidelines of the SAARC summit.
The meeting between Koirala and Singh assumes importance as it takes place ahead of the formation of a new governmentin Nepal.
Nepalese President Ram Baran Yadav on Tuesday asked the Maoists, who emerged the largest party in the landmark April 10 Constituent Assembly polls, to form a government ofnational consensus within seven days.
Koirala's visit to Sri Lanka had plunged into controversy after Maoist leaders, joined by CPN-UML, opposed the visit saying the caretaker Prime Minister should not lead theNepalese delegation to Colombo.
However Koirala was allowed by Nepal's feuding parties, including the Maoists, to attend the Summit after heapologised for not consulting them on his trip.
Koirala, 83, met top leaders from the four major political parties-- CPN-Maoist, his own party Nepali Congress, CPN-UML and Madhesi People's Rights Forum, on Tuesday after which Maoist chief Prachanda and CPN-UML leader Jhalanath Khanal agreed that he could participate in the Summit They had earlier opposed Koirala's visit and asked the government to send President Yadav instead of Koirala. PTI SKU HMK
