Kathmandu, February 2
Visiting Indian Minister for External Affairs Sushma Swaraj has advised one of the key allies of the Madheshi alliance to focus on forming the new government in Province 2.
Swaraj, who met top leaders of Rastriya Janata Party on Thursday evening for around 40 minutes, congratulated the party and its ally Sanghiya Samajwadi Forum for electoral victory in Province 2. It is time that the RJP prove its credentials by forming and successfully running the government in Province 2, a Madheshi leader present during the meeting quoted the minister as saying.
According to sources, RJP leaders Mahanta Thakur, Rajendra Mahato, Sharat Singh Bhandari and Rajkishore Yadav were present during the meeting.
While the Madheshi leaders wanted to talk about the UML’s non-committal stance on amending the constitution, Swaraj is learnt to have tried to steer the conversation towards the development of Madhesh. She told the leaders that it was up to them to decide whether they wanted to join the Left Alliance’s government.
“If Nepal’s Madhesh remains poor and unstable, it will affect Bihar and other states in India. You should now focus on economic prosperity and development,” a Madheshi leader quoted Swaraj. The RJP leadership acknowledged the statement and raised concerns over the progress of India-assisted projects in Madhesh such as the Hulaki (Postal) Highway.
Swaraj is also learnt to have hinted that her government will support Province 2’s efforts to control floods in the Koshi and Gandak.
