Swaraj calls for early framing of Nepal's constitution

Visiting Indian External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj held talks with top leaders of major political parties here on Thursday and urged them to hasten the constitution making process.

The talks were held on the sidelines of the International Conference on Nepal's Reconstruction, according to external affairs ministry spokesperson Vikas Swarup.

India has been supporting Nepal's efforts at drafting the constitution since its constituent assembly was elected in 2013 and assured it all support.

Nepal has so far elected two Constituent Assemblies -- in 2008 and 2013 -- to prepare the so-far elusive document. The first constituent assembly folded up without any progress on the much-awaited statute, and now the second house is engaged in the task.

An interim constitution is guiding the lawmakers at present.

The logjam was cleared on June 8 when the four major political parties of Nepal inked a 16-point agreement to federate the country into eight federal provinces, thus paving the way for the promulgation of the new constitution.

Sushma Swaraj at the conference pledged $1 billion for Nepal's reconstruction.

She met President Ram Baran Yadav, Prime Minister Sushil Koirala and other political leaders of Nepal during her two-day visit to Nepal.