Manmohan Singh condoles Koirala's death

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today condoled the death of former Nepalese Premier G P Koirala and said the late leader had an enlightened vision of India-Nepal relations.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today condoled the death of former Nepalese Premier G P Koirala and said the late leader had an enlightened vision of India-Nepal relations.

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Describing Koirala as one of Nepal's "tallest leaders and an elder statesman of South Asia", Singh said in a condolence message that Koirala worked sincerely to bring the people of the two countries closer.

"I have personally had a long association with Shri Koirala and have benefitted immensely from his wise counsel and advice not only on issues affecting our bilateral ties but also on matters affecting South Asia as a whole," he said.

Singh said Koirala was first and foremost a democrat and his long struggle to usher in democracy in Nepal reached a successful conclusion when he became the first democratically elected Prime Minister of Nepal in 1991.

He subsequently guided the destiny of the Nepalese people for further three years as Prime Minister, Singh said, adding Koirala was a mass leader and a statesman, whose knowledge and wisdom guided the polity of Nepal in the "right direction at critical junctures in the country's history".

The passing away of Koirala marks the end of an era in Nepalese politics, he added.