Visiting Foreign Secretary of India, Shyam Saran, paid courtesy calls on vice chairmen in the council of ministers, Dr Tulsi Giri, Kirtinidhi Bista and newly appointed Home Minister Kamal Thapa.
Vice chairman of council of ministers Kirtinidihi Bista
Vice chairman of council of ministers Kirtinidihi Bista (file Photo)
Talking to reporters after his visit with Saran, vice chairman Bista tried to downplay the significance of the visit by the Indian Foreign Secretary. “It seems as if there has been an earthquake due to the arrival of Indian Foreign Secretary. There is nothing like that. This is a routine thing.”
When asked if there was any specific agenda that the Indian Foreign Secretary wanted to discuss with Nepal, Bista said there was no such agenda. “It is only about sharing the general views,” he added.
Similarly, talking to reporters after his meeting with the Indian envoy, Home Minister Thapa said, “We discussed issues of bilateral interests.” He didn’t elaborate.
Such meetings help further strengthen the bilateral ties, he added.
Thapa, however, said the government was going to announce something important this week. “I will organize a press conference within this week after the government’s decision,” he added.
Indian Foreign Secretary Shyam Saran
Indian Foreign Secretary Shyam Saran (File Photo)
Foreign Secretary Saran is scheduled to meet senior opposition leaders including Nepali Congress president GP Koirala and CPN (UML) general secretary Madhav Kumar Nepal on Tuesday. His Majesty King Gyanendra will grant audience to Saran tomorrow morning, according to officials.
Saran is to address a press conference at the Indian embassy in Kathmandu Tuesday afternoon before returning to New Delhi.
He arrive Kathmandu on Sunday on a three-day visit to Nepal.