Kathmandu: Nepal has rubbished rumours of plans to expel Indian Ambassador Ranjit Rae following the cancellation of President Bidhya Devi Bhandrai`s visit to New Delhi and the recall of its envoy from New Delhi.

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Rumours were circulation in Kathmandu from Sunday that the government was preparing to declare Rae, who was said to have breached several diplomatic norms - including the Vienna Convention - persona non-grata (PNG), meaning his diplomatic immunity would be withdrawn.


The rumours gained ground after Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli cancelled Bhandarai`s visit and recalled Nepal`s Ambassador to India Deep Kumar Uphadhya apparently in retaliation of India`s supposed hand in toppling his government.

After some media outlets reported that a closed door meeting at Oli`s residence discussed possibility of declaring Rae PNG, this simultaneously created turmoil in New Delhi and Kathmandu prompting Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Kamal Thapa to issue a statement on Sunday evening saying: "Some media speculation regarding Nepal government mulling expulsion of Indian Ambassador Rae is baseless and is aimed at damaging Nepal-India relations."