India reaffirms commitment to reconstruction efforts in Nepal

New Delhi: Nepal's former Prime Minister and chief of the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) Prachanda on Wednesday met External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj who reaffirmed India's unwavering commitment to the massive reconstruction efforts in the quake-battered country.

Last month, India had pledged USD one billion in assistance to Nepal for its reconstruction programme which is over and above India's existing developmental assistance of another USD one billion over the next five years.

In the meeting, Swaraj conveyed India's strong commitment to Nepal's reconstruction process, sources said.

Issues relating to Nepal's Constitution also figured in the meeting. India has been favouring early finalisation of the Constitution.

Prachanda, once an India baiter, has softened his stance towards the country in recent years. He had earlier frequently attacked India and accused New Delhi of interfering in Nepal's affairs and "dictating" to its leadership.

CPN (Maoist) chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal, better known as Prachanda, arrived in New Delhi on Wednesday on a seven-day visit.

Four major political parties -- Nepali Congress, CPN-UML, UCPN-Maoist and Madhesi Peoples Forum Democratic -- that together command 90 per cent majority in the 601-member Constituent Assembly have reached a 16-point deal to settle contentious issues of Constitution-drafting.

The first draft of the Constitution was presented in the Constituent Assembly last week and is being deliberated upon.

The draft Constitution will then be published in the Nepal Gazette for discussion by the people before its promulgation.

However, some Madhesi (areas in the foothills close to Indo-Nepal border) parties and fringe parties are opposing the process, saying the proposed Constitution has failed to address their issues.

Swaraj, who had visited Kathmandu last month for an international donors' conference in the wake of the earthquake, had met the entire spectrum of Nepalese leadership, including Prachanda and encouraged them to finalise the the Constitution at the earliest.