KATHMANDU, Nov 9: Around two dozen media persons reached Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) by 2:15 p.m. Monday to meet CPN-UML Chairman Jhala Nath Khanal upon his arrival back from New Delhi as per information disseminated by his aides. [break]
The chairman´s secretary, Nirmal Bhattarai, and his assistant, Ram Babu Adhikari, among other party cadres, reached the airport by around 2:30 p.m. The chairman´s vehicle, Ba3Cha 5790, was placed on the ready at the airport VVIP gate.
A team of the Armed Police Force (APF) reached there at the same time to escort Khanal from the airport.
By around 2:35 p.m., some media persons were informed about the cancellation of Khanal´s flight. But his aides were unaware of this. Bhattarai confirmed the cancellation after that.
Khanal, who left for a week-long visit to New Delhi, was scheduled to fly back to Kathmandu at 1:40 p.m. But he canceled his scheduled return at the last minute after an appointment with India´s prime minister materialized.
Bhattarai said that an Indian official called the UML chief at 12.30 informing him of finalization of his appointment with Indian Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh.
According to UML Party Secretary Yuvraj Gyawali, Khanal is scheduled to meet Singh at 12:30 p.m. Tuesday and fly home at 1:40 p.m. But a meeting with Congress (I) Chairperson Sonia Gandhi has not been confirmed as of Monday evening, he said.
Khanal had gone to India Tuesday upon the invitation of the Indian government. According to aides, Indian Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao had formally extended the invitation "on behalf of the Indian government" when she was in Kathmandu in September.
Earlier, Khanal met the Indian foreign minister, home minister, finance minister, the chief ministers of Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, opposition leader Lal Krishna Advani and Indian communist leader Sita Ram Yechuri, among others.
This is Khanal´s first visit to the southern neighbor since his was elected party chairman by the party´s general convention in Butwal last February. His aide said the Indian government had extended the invitation to Khanal at least four times since he became party chairman. He visited China in April upon a formal invitation of Communist Party of China, which has fraternal relations with the UML.
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