Kathmandu: A high-level Indian
delegation, including Lok Sabha Speaker Mira Kumar, today met
Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal and expressed condolence on
the death of veteran leader Girija Prasad Koirala.
The official Indian delegation, including Finance
Minister Pranab Mukherjee and External Affairs Minister S M
Krishna, is here to attend the funeral of the former Nepalese
Prime Minister, who passed away at the age of 85 yesterday.
The Indian leaders met Prime Minister Nepal at his
residence discussed the political developments in the country,
according to officials.
Describing veteran Nepali Congress party leader as "a
statesman of great stature", India said that in his demise it
has lost a friend and key champion of democracy in the
sub-continent.
"In passing away of Koirala, we lost a statesman of
great stature," said Kumar.
He fought for deepening the roots of democracy in
Nepal, she said, adding in his demise, the sub-continent lost
a great champion of democracy.
Finance Minister Mukherjee said Koirala fought for
democracy for a long period and and initiated the peace
process in Nepal.
Earlier, the Indian leaders visited the residence of
Deputy Prime Minister Sujata Koirala, the only daughter of
Koirala, to express their condolences.
They also went to Dashrath Stadium where the veteran
leader's body was kept for people to pay their last respects.
Tens of thousands of mourners flocked to the Nepalese
capital to pay last respects to Nepal's peace architect whose
passing away has also brought the curtain down on a
distinguished political career spanning over six-decades.
PTI
First Published: Sunday, March 21, 2010, 22:03