The leaders put forward such suggestions during an interaction program with the prime minister at the latter´s office at Singha Durbar on Monday. [break]
After the meeting, the leaders said they requested the prime ministers to limit his trip to a goodwill visit, emphasize the implementation of former agreements, and take steps to contain growing trade-deficit.
Nepali Congress (NC) leader Ram Chandra Paudel said he advised Bhattarai to resolve several pending issues with India instead of signing any new agreement.
"We have many problems which need to be resolved through political consensus," Paudel said.
UML leader Madhav Kumar Nepal advised Bhattarai to take initiative to open the Phulbari Bangala Band highway, which is the shortest route to a seaport for the landlocked country.
Rastriya Prajatantra Party Chairman Pashupati Shamsher said he advised Bhattarai to push for reducing the growing trade-deficit with India, among other things.
Rastriya Jana Shakti Party Chairman Surya Bahadur Thapa said he suggested to PM to clarify his party´s stance on India which is being construed as anti-Indian.
Prime Minister´s press adviser Ram Rijhan Yadav said Bhattarai assured the leaders that he would not strike any deal with India without consensus.
Hardliners´ note of caution
Meanwhile, UCPN (Maoist) hardliners have also asked the prime minister not to strike any deal making "compromises on the national sovereignty".
The leaders said India wants Bhattarai to sign a "treaty on terrorism" after widespread protests over proposed extradition treaty and letting India keep air marshals at Tribhuvan International Airport. "It is not the right time to sign any treaty and we are also against that," said Maoist leader Khadga Bahadur Bishwakarma.
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