PM Oli's visit to India 'fruitful': Foreign Minister

Nepal today said Prime Minister K P Oli's recent visit to India was "fruitful" as it cleared the "misunderstanding" between the two neighbours caused by the turbulence after the promulgation of the new Constitution.
"The visit was historical, memorable and fruitful," said Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs Kamal Thapa, who was among the members of Oli's delegation to India.
Speaking at an interaction programme organised by Nepal- India Friendship Society here, Thapa said, "The visit was successful in clearing misunderstanding created between the two countries due to the blockade at the southern border."
Madhesis, who are largely of Indian-origin, led a nearly six-month-long violent protest over better representation in the Parliament and the federal structure of the new Constitution that divides their ancestral homeland that claimed over 50 lives before being called off unexpectedly.

Earlier this month, the Madhesis announced withdrawal of their protests including the border blockade.
Speaking on the occasion, India's ambassador to Nepal Ranjit Rae said the prime minister's maiden visit was "fruitful in economic, political and reconstruction fronts."

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has termed the Nepalese Constitution as an important achievement during talks with his Nepalese counterpart, he recalled.
Prime Minister Oli had first hand observation of Bhuj in Gujarat, where he had an opportunity to learn about the post-quake reconstruction efforts of India, he said.
Nepal could learn a lot for "building back better" from the experience of Bhuj, the ambassador pointed out.

"The visit was successful, fruitful and productive," he said.
Nepali Congress member and former minister Prakash Sharan Mahat said that the extreme rightists and extreme leftists of Nepalese political circle were mainly responsible in damaging Nepal-India ties as "they always adopted the policy of anti-India nationalism."
Nepal and India should move forward by forging partnership in different fields for their development and economic prosperity by promoting each other's national interest and honouring each other's security and sensitivity, he said.
On the occasion, hydropower expert Gyanendra Lal Pradhan said that Nepal and India should cooperate in the area of hydropower so that people of both the countries can benefit.

"There is no other way than forging cooperation and collaboration between Nepal and India in the field of hydropower, to get maximum benefit for both the countries," he added.