Nepali Ambassador to India Deep Kumar Upadhyay is arriving in Kathmandu on Friday with Delhi’s message of “an immediate need for political dialogue and consensus between the concerned stakeholders”.

In his meeting with Ambassador Upadhyay on Wednesday, India’s National Security Adviser Ajit Doval had urged the Nepali envoy to go to Kathmandu, if need be, to create a conducive environment for talks.  

According to sources, Doval also telephoned Indian Ambassador to Nepal Ranjit Rae and asked him to convey to all sides of India’s expectation for an early political agreement, peace and stability in Nepal.  

“Upon reaching Kathmandu, I will tell the prime minister and political leaders about Delhi’s wish for peace and stability in Nepal. I will also inform Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s concerns about the growing distance among Nepal’s political parties,” Upadhyay told the Post.

Efforts are being made by ambassadors of both countries to maintain understanding and dialogue after the Indian prime minister expressed serious concerns over the aggravating ties between the two neighbours.

“We have begun efforts to improve bilateral relations following a briefing at the advisers’ level of security affairs,” said an officer at the Indian Ministry of External Affairs, adding that “immature and undiplomatic

press statements” issued by the External Affairs

Ministry in the last week contributed to a new low in Nepal-India relations.

Upadhyay and his Indian counterpart Rae are

expected to hold talks

in Kathmandu with key Madhesi leaders, including Bijaya Kumar Gachhadar, Upendra Yadav and Mahanta Thakur, in a bid to create

environment for dialogue and consensus.

Meanwhile, Nepali Congress leader Shekhar Koirala, who is in the Indian capital city on a personal visit, said that the situation has further deteriorated due to lack of dialogue with the agitating Tharu and Madhesi leaders.

“I don’t see anything wrong with the rumour about seven-amendment suggestion given to Nepal. The issue of naturalised citizenship can be addressed through talks,” Koirala told the Post.