Deuba seeks India's help in making Nepal a 'secular republic'

With Nepal struggling hard to draft a Constitution, the country's former Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba today sought India's help in the matter.
Delivering a lecture here, Dueba said, "India being the largest democracy in the world can support Nepal in drafting a strong Constitution to make it a federal secular republic and help it achieve the primary goal of inclusive development."
He said India can help Nepal in harnessing the knowledge economy such as information technology and help it setup a stronger railway system and health care.
"The Nepali political parties seek the support of all the major political parties in India for the socio-economic development of Nepal, which has been a key factor in establishing our bilateral relations lately," he said.

Speaking about the Communist Party of Nepal, which is considered to have an anti-India stance, he said that they are in the process of figuring out how to merge their ideals with the democratic structure and hoped that they will be able to do it soon.
Asked about the extent of India's co-operation Nepal seeks, he said the biggest potential Nepal has is that of a huge source of renewable energy which can be harnessed and exploited.

"Nepal, with its fast flowing rivers has a potential to generate 100,000 MW of electrical energy, which can be harnessed by a joint-approach development of hydro-electric power with India," he said.

Deuba during his meeting with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi earlier in the day has sought India's co-operation in infrastructural development and tourism.
Deuba, a senior leader of the Nepali Congress is currently on an official visit to India at the invitation of the Government of India. He added that the constituent assembly elections in Nepal will be held in November this year.