Naya Shakti Party Nepal coordinator Baburam Bhattarai has remarked that the recent visit to Kathmandu by External Affairs Minister of India Sushma Swaraj was ill-timed.

Talking to reporters in Gorkha Bazaar on Saturday, Bhattarai charged that Swaraj’s visit had grown the mistrust between Nepal and India. “Indian foreign minister’s visit, at a time of forming a new government after the elections, has given rise to unnecessary political speculations,” said the former prime minister.

Swaraj wrapped up her two-day Nepal visit on Friday after meeting President Bidya Devi Bhandari, Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba, CPN-UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli, CPN (Maoist Centre) Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal and the leaders of two Madhes-based parties.

Bhattarai came to his home district on Saturday to inaugurate the 15th convention of the Gorkha Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Addressing the function, he underscored the need for development and economic prosperity in the country. 

“There are various parties with different political ideologies but all should work together for development,” he said.