Kathmandu, Mar 20: Nepal`s King Gyanendra will arrive in India today on a ten-day visit, during which he will meet several top leaders including President A P J Abdul Kalam, Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani. The King, who will be accompanied by his wife Komal, will also participate in the golden jubilee celebrations to mark Jayendra Saraswati`s assumption of the title of Shankaracharya of Kanchi Kamakoti. The royal visit, second in nine months after Gyanendra`s accession to the throne in June 2001, has gained significance as it comes amidst gradual progress in peace talks between the Nepalese government and Maoists with the signing of a "code of conduct" by the two sides this week. Besides the President, Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister, Gyanendra will also meet Minister for External Affairs Yashwant Sinha and other important leaders during his stay in New Delhi. The King will also visit several religious centres in Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh and Kolkata.
Gyanendra last visited India on June 23, 2002, a year after the royal palace massacre in which King Birendra and his entire family were killed.
Bureau Report