Rao steps up political parleys

Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao busied herself with political parleys on the second day of her three-day visit to Nepal.

Updated on: Jan 20, 2011, 01:28:27 IST

Hindustan Times | By Utpal Parashar, Kathmandu

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Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao busied herself with political parleys on the second day of her three-day visit to Nepal.
On Wednesday morning, she met Nepali Congress president Sushil Koirala and discussed government formation, constitution drafting and status of peace process after exit of the UN mission in Nepal.

She also met Maoist chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal and Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist Leninist) chief Jhalanath Khanal later in the day and got to know their views on the same issues.

Nepal’s three main parties — Maoists, NC and CPN (UML) are locked in a fresh struggle over heading the next government after 16 rounds of voting in parliament failed to elect a new prime minister.

They have time till Friday to forge a consensus or else another round of voting to elect the PM by majority vote is likely.

After hectic meetings, Rao is slated to engage in dinner diplomacy with leaders of Madhes-based parties at a reception held in the evening.

The Madhesi-parties from Nepal’s Terai region are crucial in formation of the next government as they have 82 lawmakers in parliament.

During her discussions with caretaker Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal on Tuesday evening, Rao had made it clear that India would support a government led by any party in Nepal.

In the past, Maoists have accused the southern neighbour of scuttling their attempts at regaining power by putting pressure on Madhesi parties not to support Dahal in the PM poll.

Rao will meet Deputy Prime Minister-cum-Foreign Minister Sujata Koirala on Thursday where she is expected to raise the issue of the long pending extradition treaty between both nations.

Taking time off from meetings, Rao also visited the Pashupatinath temple.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Utpal Parashar
A seasoned senior journalist, I have nearly three decades of experience across print, digital, and online platforms, covering political transitions, insurgencies, environmental issues, and development stories in India and Nepal. I am skilled in breaking news, leading editorial teams and launch of newspaper editions. I am adept at leveraging digital trends and social media to expand global reach, with a strong ethical foundation and a reputation for impactful journalism. An alumnus of Asian College of Journalism, I joined Hindustan Times in New Delhi as a trainee reporter in May 1997. Over the years, I have been posted in Dehradun, Kathmandu (Nepal) and Guwahati. Currently, as Senior Assistant Editor at Hindustan Times, I lead a team reporting on India’s northeastern states. My work involves in-depth analysis, and engaging multimedia storytelling across formats, including text, photo, video, and interactive content. I am skilled in producing timely, shareable content, leveraging digital platforms and social media to engage global audiences. Throughout my career with the Hindustan Times, I have led diverse editorial teams, designed capacity-building activities, and supported reporters in developing strong story ideas, ethical reporting practices, digital skills, and fact-checking techniques. As Senior Assistant Editor for Northeast India, I have been responsible for guiding correspondents through complex political, humanitarian, and community-level stories using multimedia formats. Earlier, as Foreign Correspondent in Nepal, I produced extensive reporting during Nepal’s democratic transition and the 2015 earthquake and its aftermath.Read More

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