The chief of Nepal’s ruling party was heading for New Delhi on a week-long visit yesterday for consultations with Indian leaders after the republic’s political parties failed to persuade the former Maoist guerrillas to call off their protests, which have crippled the government.
Jhalanath Khanal, whose Communist Party of Nepal-Unified Marxist Leninist is leading the current 22-party government in Nepal, will be holding talks in the Indian capital with Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Sonia Gandhi, president of India’s ruling Congress party, who have expressed support for the present government of Nepal, despite the Maoists’ demand for its dissolution.
Khanal will also hold consultations with India’s communist leaders, who are regarded as being close to the Nepal Maoists, like Sitaram Yechury of the Communist Party of India (Marxist).
The communist leader will consult India’s opposition Bharatiya Janata Party leaders as well and is scheduled to hold a meeting with its chief Rajnath Singh.
Khanal was invited by the Indian government, his party said.
Nepal’s communist-headed government is grappling with fresh Maoist protests that started on Sunday. |
