Schedule finalized for PM’s state visit to India

Kathmandu / February 17: Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli is paying a state visit to India from 19 to 24 February at the friendly invitation of Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi.

According to a press release issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Wednesday, the PM will be accompanied by his spouse Radhika Shakya. He will be staying at the Rashtrapati Bhawan in New Delhi as the state guest.

Similarly, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs, Kamal Thapa; Minister for Finance, Bishnu Prasad Paudel; Minister for Home Affairs, Shakti Bahadur Basnet; and Chief Advisor to the PM, Bishnu Prasad Rimal, will accompany the PM.

The entourage also comprises the CEO of National Reconstruction Authority, parliamentarians, Chief Secretary and secretaries and other high officials from different Ministries, media persons and representatives of business community.

During his stay, the PM will attend a reception to be hosted by Ambassador of Nepal to India, Deep Kumar Upadhyaya, to mark the 66th National Democracy Day at the Embassy of Nepal, New Delhi, on 19 February 2016.

Similarly, on 20 February, PM Oli will attend the ceremonial reception and inspect a guard of honour at the Rashtrapati Bhawan. He will then pay homage to Mahatma Gandhi at Rajghat. On the same day, the PM will hold official meeting on matters of mutual interests with his Indian counterpart Mr Modi at Hyderabad House. Following the meeting, Indian PM Modi will host a luncheon in honour of the Prime Minister of Nepal.

While in New Delhi, the PM will pay calls on India’s President Pranab Mukherjee and Vice President Mohammad Hamid Ansari. Some senior members of the Government of India too will call on the PM. He is also scheduled to address the Indian Council of World Affairs at Sapru House and a function of the Indian business community. He will have an interaction with prominent Indian media and Nepali community there.

Moreover, PM Oli will inspect Tehri Hydropower Project site in Uttarakhand and visit Bhuj in Gujarat. He will get acquainted with the post-earthquake reconstruction works there. He will also meet some business leaders in Mumbai.

The PM is scheduled to return home from Mumbai on 24 February. RSS