In his meeting with the president at the latter´s office in Shital Niwas on Sunday, Shrestha made the suggestion in view of the political deadlock. He told that the president´s visit to a foreign country at a time when the country is facing political crisis wouldn´t send a positive message. [break]
“I have suggested to the president to cancel his India visit. If he cannot cancel his visit, it would be better for him to return home the same day after visiting Banaras,” he told Republica.
President Yadav is scheduled to leave for India on Monday at the invitation of his Indian counterpart Pranab Mukherjee. President Dr Yadav is attending the Special Convocation Ceremony of the Banaras Hindu University as the Guest of Honor together with his Indian counterpart Mukherjee. There he will receive D Litt to be conferred on him by the university.
The deputy prime minister´s request to the president comes at a time when suggestions have been made from various quarters, including from top political leaders and the media, that the president cancel his India visit. They have also suggested that the president as a custodian of the constitution should not leave the country until the political deadlock is resolved.
However, others have argued that it is the right time for the president to make an India visit as there has not been any high-level visit from Nepal to India for the last 13 months. This would be the president´s third visit to India.
According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA), the president is also scheduled to hold meetings with Indian political leaders during his stay in New Delhi. A MoFA statement said the president will hold meetings with his Indian counterpart Mukherjee and Prime Minister Man Mohan Singh on December 26.
The president will also meet the Indian vice president, senior ministers, chairperson of United Progressive Alliance, opposition party leaders and other senior political leaders during his five-day visit.
He is also scheduled to undergo medical checkup at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences in New Delhi and also attend the reception to be hosted by the Embassy of Nepal in New Delhi on December 27. He will return home on December 29.
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