UML says PM's India visit a success

Kathmandu, Aug 24 (ANI): The CPN (UML) has stated that the five-day official visit of Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal to India was "successful and fruitful."

The Standing Committee meeting of UML held at the party's central office on Sunday said that the visit was successful and thanked the Prime Minister after he briefed the committee over the highlights of his visit.

Meanwhile, former Foreign Minister and Chairman of Madheshi Janadhikar Forum (MJF) Upendra Yadav, has said that Madhav Kumar Nepal's recently concluded India visit was just a continuation and that it failed to attain any achievements.

Kantipur quoted him as, saying that Madhav Kumar Nepal's India visit failed to accomplish tasks of national interest.

"We could not see any solid proposal that would have abated the yearly deficit of billion rupees. No talks regarding the maximum exploitation of Nepal's water resources have been made," he said.

He also said that Prime Minister has not raised the issue of border encroachment during discussions with his Indian counterpart.

He also said that Foreign Minister Sujata Koirala's decision to back out of the trip at the last moment was against the spirit of diplomatic norms.

"It's an extreme mistake in part of Foreign Minister to back out of India tour after sending in the name list of Prime Minister's entourage" he added.

However, during the visit both India and Nepal included a new trade treaty and agreement to control unauthorized trade, particularly from a third country.

The treaty is aimed at widening the bilateral economic engagements.

The new agreement will replace the existing arrangements since 1991, which was extended from time to time.

The trade treaty, which has been under negotiation for the last two years, aims at enlarging the scope of the existing institutional framework. As per the treaty India gives duty-free access to its market to goods manufactured in Nepal. (ANI)