Prachanda to stay at Rashtrapati Bhawan during India visit

Nepal government today announced Prime Minister Prachanda's upcoming visit to India, his first foreign trip since asssuming office, from Thursday during which he will stay at the Rashtrapati Bhawan as state guest.
According to the itinerary, Prachanda will fly to New Delhi on September 15 and return home on September 18.
Prachanda and his wife Sita will stay at the Rashtrapati Bhawan as state guests, a statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said.
The Nepalese prime minister's delegation includes Minister for Foreign Affairs Prakash Sharan Mahat and Minister for Physical Infrastructure and Transport Ramesh Lekhak.
No minister from Prachanda's CPN-Maoist Centre party would be in the team, The Himalayan Times reported.

Mahat is currently in New Delhi to prepare for the visit.

Others in Prachanda's delegation include lawmakers, senior government officials, mediapersons and representatives of the business community.
Ahead of his visit, Prachanda on Saturday said he would lay a "strong foundation" for mutual trust between India and Nepal after ties went through "some bitter experience" over the recent Madhesi agitation.
India has said Prachanda's visit "will provide an opportunity for both sides to discuss issues of mutual interest and concern, as well as seek ways to strengthen the age old, close and friendly ties between the two countries in diverse sectors."

During his four-day visit, Prachanda will hold talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on bilateral and regional issues.
Nepal-India ties had soured after months-long border blockade last year by Madhesi protesters over the new Constitution which they claimed marginalised them.
Kathmandu had then accused India of imposing an "unofficial blockade" on the landlocked nation in support of the Madhesis, who share close cultural, linguistic and family links with Indians across the border.