Press Release: Hon DPM’s meetings in New Delhi

Press Release

Hon DPM’s meetings in New Delhi

The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Home Affairs Hon Bimalendra Nidhi had separate meetings with the Minister of Home Affairs of India, His Excellency Rajnath Singh and the Minister of External Affairs of India, Her Excellency Sushma Swaraj at their respective offices in New Delhi today. During both meetings, Hon Deputy Prime Minister raised with serious concern the matter of the unfortunate incident of killing of an innocent Nepali national, Mr. Govinda Gautam due to fire opened by the Indian security forces at Nepal-India border near Anandabazar at Punarbas Municipality, Ward No. 8 of Kanchanpur District on March 9, 2017. He mentioned that the forensic and post mortem reports requested by the Indian side had been shared and urged the Government of India to immediately investigate into the matter, share the findings of the investigation and bring the guilty to justice.

During the meetings, both Hon Home Minister and Hon External Affairs Minister of the Government of India expressed grief over the death of the Nepali national. They assured that the Indian side would expeditiously investigate the incident in impartial manner and in close cooperation with the concerned authorities on the Nepali side. They also assured that upon completion of the investigation, appropriate actions would be taken against anyone responsible for the incident.

Underscoring the need of early completion of ongoing boundary works including the construction of boundary pillars, both sides agreed to mobilize additional joint teams of Survey officials in the field.

During the meetings, Hon Deputy Prime Minister congratulated the Government of India on the successful conclusion of the recently held State Assembly elections. The Deputy Prime Minister shared that local level elections will be held in Nepal on May 14 this year followed by the elections at provincial and federal levels and requested for Government of India’s logistics support for the elections as was done in the past.

The Deputy Prime Minister/Ministers from both sides agreed on the need of expediting the implementation of the ongoing development cooperation projects.

Hon Deputy Prime Minister is in New Delhi to participate in the Counter Terrorism Conference 2017 being organized by India Foundation, a New Delhi based think tank, on March 14-16, 2017. He is scheduled to return to Kathmandu tomorrow.

Embassy of Nepal, New Delhi

March 16, 2017