Koirala pays homage to Gandhi, meets Shekhawat

New Delhi, June 8: Visiting Nepalese Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala today met Vice-President Bhairon Singh Shekhawat and discussed bilateral issues in the context of Nepal returning to multi-party democracy.

Mr Koirala reaffirmed the traditional ties between the two countries and thanked India for the support given to Nepal for its democratic movement.

Mr Shekhawat congratulated Mr Koirala for the success of the democratic movement and the peace initiative taken by his seven-party alliance government to bring Maoist insurgents into the mainstream.

Mr Shekhawat also hosted a dinner for Mr Koirala.

On the third day of his visit today, Mr Koirala paid homage to Mahatma Gandhi by placing a wreath at his samadhi at Rajghat.

Mr Koirala also met UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi and BJP President Rajnath Singh.

Yesterday, Mr Koirala had attended a dinner hosted by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh after a one-to-one meeting with him and delegation-level talks where India pledged to provide an economic aid package to Nepal, as sought by Mr Koirala, to put the country's economy back on the rails.

The quantum of aid will be announced tomorrow in a joint statement.

Mr Koirala had also met President A P J Abdul Kalam, Home Minister Shivraj Patil and former Prime Minister Chandra Shekhar yesterday.

He will meet Leader of the Opposition L K Advani and Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee tommorrow from departing for Kathmandu.

UNI