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India’s Nepal engagement: Oli, Sushma agree to ‘forget past bitterness’ (Second Lead)
By Anil Giri
Kathmandu, Feb 1 (IANS) Putting their frosty ties behind, Nepal’s Prime Minister in waiting K.P. Sharma Oli and Indian External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on Thursday agreed to “forget the past bitterness” and to move ahead with a fresh start to take bilateral ties to a new height.
In a bid to engage with the upcoming Left government in Nepal, Sushma Swaraj on Thursday held two meetings with CPN-UML chief Oli, who is set to form a new government.
The focus and objective of her visit was to meet and cultivate Oli, who is widely seen as Prime Minister in waiting, and who New Delhi is apprehensive may tilt towards China as he had done during his last tenure as Prime Minister in late 2015.
Sushma Swaraj, who arrived here earlier in the day, and Oli held a one-on-one meeting for over an hour, Oli’s press coordinator Chetan Adhikari said, without divulging any details.
Raveesh Kumar, spokesperson of India’s Ministry of External Affairs, tweeted about the meeting: “In her first engagement, EAM Sushma met K.P. Sharma Oli, Chairman of the CPN-UML and congratulated on his Party’s victory in the recent elections. The two held wide ranging discussions on ways to take the special relations between India and Nepal forward.”
After their one-on-one meeting, Oli and Sushma Swaraj held delegation level talks where senior UML leaders and top Indian officials, including its Ambassador to Nepal Manjeev Singh Puri, were present.
Sources said that both Oli and Sushma Swaraj have agreed to “forget the past bitterness” that was triggered after the blockade of the Nepal-India border and decided to move ahead with a fresh start to take the bilateral ties to a new height.
Oli later hosted a dinner in honour of Sushma Swaraj and the visiting Indian delegation.
After dinner, Sushma Sushma held talks with Madhes-based leaders and discussed a wide range of issues, including that of the constitutional amendment in favour of the Madhesi population.
Ahead of the meeting with the Indian Minister, Oli during a joint meeting of UML and CPN-Maoist Centre, had informed them that “he had invited Sushma to Kathmandu”. The UML and Maoists are preparing a party merger ahead of government formation.
During the recent two telephonic conversations with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, with the latest on January 21, Oli had advised that Sushma Swaraj be sent to Kathmandu so that both sides can sit together and discuss matters related to mutual interest, according to sources.
“She is our guest,” said top UML leader Bamdev Gautam, adding that the visit aims to improve bilateral ties.
Oli and India shared very acrimonious ties after his government was toppled in July 2016.
He blamed India for hatching a conspiracy against his government and was a vocal critic of the five-month Nepal-India border blockade, always holding India responsible for it.
Before wrapping up the visit, Sushma Swaraj will meet with President Bidhya Devi Bhandari, Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba and CPN-Maoist Centre Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’.
–IANS
giri/rn/vd
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Dr. Abhishek Verma Dedicates a Shelter in Memory of His Mother, Veena Verma, at KGMU; Inaugurated by Daughter Nicolle Verma
World-renowned business tycoon Dr. Abhishek Verma has supported Foodman Vishal Singh’s Hunger-Free World mission. In memory of his mother, Late Veena Verma, who was a 3 term Rajya Sabha MP.
Dr. Verma dedicated a state-of-the-art free permanent shelter for the attendants of patients at KGMU Medical University, Lucknow, under the aegis of Vijay Shree Foundation. His daughter, Nicolle Verma, inaugurated the shelter.
During the event, Foodman Vishal Singh honored Nicolle Verma by presenting her with a memento. Mrs. Nidhi Sharma and Avantika Yadav, associated with the organization, welcomed her with garlands. Following this, Nicolle Verma distributed essential items to the attendants and also handed out fruits. She became emotional remembering her grandmother on her birth anniversary.
On this occasion, she also inaugurated the “Veena Verma Sevalaya” in memory of her grandmother, Veena Verma, to serve the attendants. She expressed, “I feel proud that my family is engaged in nation-building as well as social service. Today, in collaboration with Vijay Shree Foundation founder Foodman Vishal Singh Ji, I feel immensely proud to dedicate this shelter for the poor, helpless, and needy attendants of patients battling serious illnesses like cancer. I am honored to be associated with the Hunger-Free World Mission for humanity.”
Inspired by the continuous humanitarian service provided by Vijay Shree Foundation over the past 17 years, Nicolle Verma donated 10 lakh rupees to support the cause. The purpose of this donation is to ensure that services continue for the needy attendants of patients suffering from severe illnesses in hospitals, as facilitated by Foodman Vishal Singh.
It is noteworthy that Dr. Abhishek Verma’s family has a legacy of public and philanthropic service. They are helping millions to carry forward the values and service work of their parents. On the occasion of his mother’s birth anniversary, Dr. Abhishek Verma dedicated this state-of-the-art permanent shelter at Lucknow Medical College to serve the attendants of patients through the Vijay Shree Foundation.
Supporting Foodman Vishal Singh’s Hunger-Free World mission, Dr. Abhishek Verma assured that he would continually support keeping this flame of humanity alive. He also promised to assist in providing medicines to the helpless patients.
Continuing her grandmother’s legacy of service, Nicolle Verma personally served food to the needy patients and attendants. She said, “It is our good fortune to have received the joy of doing this noble work today through Foodman Vishal Singh. I have taken another step forward in carrying my family’s values and cooperation by joining hands with the Vijay Shree Foundation. My father taught me to serve and help the needy, and I feel happy when I bring a smile to someone’s face.”
On the birth anniversary of the late Veena Verma, the event organizer, Vijay Shree Foundation founder Foodman Vishal Singh, said, “We feel proud and happy that Dr. Abhishek Verma, a globally renowned business tycoon, has extended his support to uplift our country from the hunger index. Today, on his mother’s birth anniversary, he inaugurated a state-of-the-art permanent shelter at Lucknow Medical College, which will always be helpful for the needy attendants of patients. It is a pleasure for me and the organization to receive the affection of Mr. Verma.”
The event was attended by General Manager Verma Family Office Hemant Garg, Sonu Rajput, and the organization’s volunteers, including Sandeep Singh, Parmeshwar Ji, Prashant Rao Gautam, Balram Singh, Ramesh Chaudhary, Suman, Jeetu, Anil, Suraj, Vinay, Manish Bhadauria, Manas Mehrotra, Vivek, Apurv, Happy, and others.