Congress delegation to visit Nepal

New Delhi, Jan 30: Seeking to dispel the notion that it had detached itself from the current political process in Nepal, the Congress will send a high-level delegation to the Himalayan nation next month. The delegation, headed by former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Digvijay Singh, will comprise of Veerappa Moily, Sachin Pilot, Shakeel Ahmad, Salman Khurshid, Abishek Manu Singhvi and Jitin Prasada.

They would be in Nepal for three days from February 12, Congress sources said here today, while pointing out that the delegation would meet the top leadership of the ruling seven-party alliance, including Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) Chief Prachanda and Prime Minister G P Koirala.
"It is essential to express solidarity with pro-democracy forces and support the constituent assembly election in April," a member of the delegation told UNI.

However, the Congress leaders were unlikely to meet King Gyanendra. The Congress delegation's visit comes at a time when the UPA government was under flak from the opposition BJP for being a "silent spectator," while allowing the Communists in India to play the role of a "colluder." In fact, the Congress had allowed CPI(M) leader Sitaram Yechuri to play a major role in brokering an accord between Nepal's political parties and its Maoists in 2006.

UNI