Nepal PM's office denies Sonia phoned to urge Reliance Energy's case

Kathmandu, Aug 9 (UNI) Nepal Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala's office and Council of Ministers today denied reports that UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi had called him regarding a project by Reliance Energy.

''An article recently published in the weekly 'Nepal' alleged that Ms Gandhi made a phone call to the Prime Minister two weeks ago and requested a positive outlook towards Reliance Energy Limited.

No phone conversation between PM Koirala and Ms Gandhi has taken place on this or any other issue in recent times,'' the PMO said in a press release issued here today.

The allegation was made in the context of the tenders recently floated by the Nepalese government for hydropower projects, it added, terming the article as constituting a ''motivated, irresponsible and deplorable attempt to drag in controversy an eminent public figure of a friendly neighboring country and the Prime Minister of this country.'' It urged the media ''to report objectively and responsibly, especially, in this critical transition time for Nepal.'' UNI XC MS GC1320