After much imbroglio, KP Sharma Oli, Prime Minister of Nepal, will visit India from February 19-23 in an effort to enhance bilateral strategic and economic ties.

“During the visit, a wide ranging discussions will take place,” Vikas Swarup, Spokesperson, Ministry of External Affairs, told reporters on Friday.

This will be Oli’s maiden official visit as Nepal’s Prime Minister. He will be having the bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on February 20.

Visits by other ministers

This comes in the backdrop of the visits made by their Finance Minister Bishnu Paudel and their Deputy PM and Foreign Minister Kamal Thapa, in February 2016 and December 2015 respectively.

Both these ministers paved the way for Oli’s visit. PM Oli also had a telephonic conversation with Modi on December 31.

The visit comes at a time when bilateral relationship between both neighbours has hit an all-time low with the local Madhesi and Janjati communities agitating over the country’s newly promulgated constitution.

The agitation, in which more than 50 people have lost their lives, resulted in the massive blockades at all border points, which Nepal accused India of imposing.

India’s advice to Nepal

The Indian government had even asked Nepal to amend their constitution accordingly so that the local tribes get proportional representative.

The amendments relate to three articles – Article 42, Article 84 and Article 286 – to resolve the 11-point demands made by the Madhesis.

It proposes to grant proportional representation to the local Madhesis in the Lower House of Parliament.

Additionally, the amendments will now also allow the Madhesis and other marginalised communities get greater representation in government bodies and other institutions on a proportional basis.

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