Were the PM’s emissaries’ visits to China, India successful?

By Our Reporter Deputy Prime Ministers Krishna Bahadur Mahara and Bimalendra Nidhi, who visited China and India respectively as special envoys of Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal, returned home accomplishing their duties. Prime Minister Dahal  had sent  DPM and Finance Minister Mahara to China and DPM and Home Minister Nidhi to India to apprise the two giant neighbours of the priority and concerns of his government. Both the DPM met the top level leaders of the neigbouirng countries and returned with good news that both the countries showed interest to exchange the high level visits and continue their assistance to Nepal. Mahara held talks with Chinese Prime Minister Li Kequnag and Foreign Minister Wang Yi while Nidhi met almost all Indian leaders including President Pranav Mukhejee, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj, former Prime Minister Manamohan Singh and Congress I vice president Rahul Gandhi. During the meeting with DPM Mahara, Chinese Prime Minister Li sought assurance to execute bilateral ties reached with China and pointed out the need for unity among all political parties in Nepal. Mahara upon his arrival in Nepal after completing his China visit said that both the Chinese President and Prime Minister will visit Nepal in October this year. Nidhi paved the way for Prime Minister Dahal’s India visit which will begin on 15 September. A meeting held between Nidhi and Indian officials fixed the date of Dahal’s India visit. Nidhi also handed over invitation to president Mukherjee to visit Nepal. News reports have it that the Indian leaders appreciated Dahal for leading the government again in eight years and showed their readiness to sign an important project with Dahal’s during the latter’s Delhi sojourn next month. Many have speculated that India would be ready to reward Dahal for pulling down the KP Oli-led government as Oli had not bowed before the Indian leaders despite facing blockade and non-cooperation during his tenure in the office. However, the concerns shown by of the Indian leaders regarding the amendment of the new constitution has drawn flaks from some leaders in Nepal. Narayan Man Bijukchhe openly criticized the talks between Nidhi and the Indian leaders for including the issue of constitution amendment. The comments made by the two DPMs and the media reports suggested that both of them succeeded to accomplish their mission. However, the Nepalese people have to wait until October whether the DPMs had told the people truth.