India awaits Nepal PM Prachanda's arrival

New Delhi, Sep 14: Nepal Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal alias 'Prachanda' will arrive here on a five-day official tour on Sunday, Sep 14 evening.

During his visit, Prachanda will meet his Indian counterpart Dr. Manmohan Singh, President Pratibha Patil, and Vice-President Mohammad Hamid Ansari. He is also scheduled to meet Congress president Sonia Gandhi, Opposition Leader LK Advani, RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav, JD (United) president Sharad Yadav, and NCP chief Sharad Yadav, besides former prime ministers VP Singh, Dewe Gowda and Atal Bihari Vajpayee. According to an External Affairs Ministry spokesman, the visit will provide an opportunity for discussing the entire gamut of issues between the two countries.

Earlier, Indian Ambassador to Nepal Rakesh Sood said that consultations concerning the country's welfare including review of the 1950 Treaty and crisis of the Saptakoshi embankment would be carried out.

Prachanda will be accompanied by a high-level delegation, including several ministers and business representatives. This will be his first visit to India after becoming the first elected Prime Minister of the federal republic Nepal.

In Beijing, he met with Chinese President Hu Jintao and Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao during his three-day visit. Prachanda is also scheduled to attend the United Nations General Assembly session in New York this month only.

The Nepali Prime Minister's visit will end on September 18.

ANI