Nepal President postpones maiden visit to India

Nepal’s first woman President Bidhya Devi Bhandari has postponed her visit to India, which would have been her first foreign trip after assuming office, in the wake of political instability in that country.

Ms Bhandari was scheduled to visit from May 9 as the state guest at the invitation of President Pranab Mukherjee. She was also scheduled to participate in a “Shahi Snan” in Ujjain’s Simhastha Kumbh on May 14.

Subsequently, Kathmandu on Friday recalled its ambassador to India over charges of non-cooperation and indulging in anti-government activities.

Ambassador Deep Kumar Upadhyaya had “confronted” PM K.P. Sharma Oli regarding the cancellation of the President’s visit, Nepalese foreign ministry sources said.

The Nepalese Cabinet had decided to recall Mr Upadhyaya after his brief conversation with the PM, they said.

Mr Upadhyaya, a leader of Opposition Nepali Congress, has been charged with indulging in anti-government activities. He has also been accused of visiting Madhes districts of southern Nepal along with Indian envoy Ranjit Rae without informing the foreign ministry, a report said. The Nepalese diplomat has been also charged with involvement in toppling the Oli government, it added.

Earlier this week, the UCPN-Maoist led by Mr Prachanda had triggered political instability by declaring the end of the coalition with the ruling CPN-UML.

The Maoists and the Opposition Nepali Congress have accused Prime Minister K.P. Oli of failing to implement the new Constitution, addressing problems related to Madhesis, expediting the post-quake reconstruction work, checking soaring prices and promoting black marketing and corruption. However, Mr Oli on Thursday survived a threat to his government after a U-turn by Prachanda-led Maoists who decided not to withdraw support to him “for the time being”.

India had on Thursday said it was closely monitoring the situation in Nepal as the Himalayan nation witnessed fast-paced political developments. “These are internal political developments in Nepal and it will not be appropriate for me to comment on those. But, of course, as a close neighbour, we are following the developments in Nepal very closely,” the ministry of external affairs (MEA) had said on Thursday, in response to a question.

Asked whether Prime Minister Narendra Modi will travel to Lumbini in Nepal for the Buddha Purnima function this month, the MEA spokesperson had said, “There are no immediate plans for the Prime Minister to visit Nepal. We are aware of the invitation that has been received for the conference in Lumbini.” He had however said India will be represented at the event at an appropriate level.