Nepal Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ will be on a state visit to India from September 15-18. The visit is expected to put an end to the rising tension between both countries over the Himalayan country’s new constitution that lead to widespread protests by Indian-origin Madhesi people.

This will be Prachanda’s first bilateral visit abroad after assuming office in August. He will be accompanied by a high-level delegation, and will be meeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi on September 16.

Prachanda succeeded KP Oli on August 4 amid tension between India and Nepal over the latter’s new constitution. Matters took an ugly turn last year when protests by the Madhesi people in Nepal claimed more than 40 lives, leading to a total shutdown of the border areas. The protests continued till February 2016.

The visit was finalised last month when Nepal’s Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister Bimalendra Nidhi came here to meet Indian officials, sources told BusinessLine .

Nepal’s constitution, promulgated on September 20, 2015, failed to meet the demands of the Madhesis, who are an indigenous tribe hailing from Nepal’s Tarai region. They, along with other such tribes, had asked for greater representation, clearly demarcated areas exclusively for them and citizenship.

India had also given tacit support to these demands. Nepal’s government, then under Oli, blamed India for the blockade at the border areas that resulted in complete stoppage of essential supplies to the country.

However, prior to his visit, Prachanda said in Kathmandu that these problems would be resolved by next month. According to sources, he is visiting India to discuss mainly this issue and how to put an end to the agitation that is still simmering.

He also said the focus of his visit to India would be to seek more support from India in the aftermath of the earthquakes there, hydropower trade pacts and postal highway.

“I am confident that the visit (to India) would not only normalise the relations that went through some bitter experience in the recent past, but also build a strong foundation for mutual trust,” he told the International Relations and Labour Committee of Parliament in Kathmandu.

Prachanda is already facing the ire of his people over Nepal’s ballooning trade deficit with India. There is a possibility that the Nepal Prime Minister might seek duty-free access for some Nepalese goods and reduction in non-tariff barriers.

“The visit of the Prime Minister of Nepal will provide an opportunity for both sides to discuss issues of mutual interest and concern, as well as seek ways to strengthen the age old, close and friendly ties between the two countries in diverse sectors,” stated a release issued by the Ministry of External Affairs on Monday.

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