‘India with Nepal in times of grief’

External affairs minister Sushma Swaraj-led all-party delegation also extended their condolences to family members of the former Nepalese Prime Minister Sushil Koirala here.

After paying homage to the Nepali Congress president, Ms Swaraj met party leaders Ram Chandra Poudel and Krishna Prasad Sitaula. Ms Swaraj, along with the delegation, later also called on Nepal’s Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli. “India always stands by Nepal in its hour of grief,” Mr Oli told Ms Swaraj during their meeting. Official sources said Prime Minister Narendra Modi had reached out to all major political parties to ensure that the delegation has leaders from the Opposition as well. Mr Koirala, who was Nepal’s Prime Minister from February 11, 2014, to October 10, 2015, passed away due to pneumonia at his residence here this morning. He was 79.

After assuming office, he was tasked with formulating the long-delayed Constitution to bring stability to the nation after years of ethnic conflict and the abolition of the 239-year-old monarchy. He was instrumental in the ushering in of the new Constitution last year.