Present coalition govt will continue for full term, PM says

Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda' has said that the current coalition government will continue for the full tenure of the parliament.

Talking to the media at Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) upon arrival from his two-day visit to India, the Prime Minister said the existing ruling alliance will serve its full term.

The PM had left for New Delhi on Sunday to participate in the swearing-in ceremony of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who was elected for a third consecutive term.

Responding to journalists' questions on the government's decision to recall ambassadors from 11 different countries, PM Prachanda urged to construe it as a mere coincidence. He added that Nepal's Ambassador to India Dr Shankar Sharma joined the Nepali delegation in India in the capacity of the Ambassador and admitted that the government's attention was not focused while recalling 11 ambassadors.

A meeting of the Council of Ministers last Thursday decided to recall Nepal's ambassadors to India, the USA, the UK, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, Malaysia, Spain, Portugal, Denmark and Israel.

Likewise, the Prime Minister said that statements expressed by CPN (UML) Chairman KP Sharma Oli in his party's programmes will not affect the ruling coalition.

Furthermore, Prime Minister Dahal said the issues of the Nepal-India border dispute, SAARC, Pancheshwor Multipurpose Project and other crucial issues were discussed with the Indian leaders during this visit.

He said that discussions were held on resolving the bilateral issues by consulting through the bilateral mechanism and said he was optimistic about the positive resolution of these issues concerning Nepal-India relations.

After the swearing-in ceremony, Prime Minister Dahal also held a brief meeting with his counterpart Modi and paid a courtesy call on the President of India Droupadi Murmu today. During the meetings, various aspects of Nepal-India relations were discussed, according to the Prime Minister's Secretariat.

Prime Minister Dahal was accompanied by his daughter Ganga Dahal, Minister for Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Padam Giri, Foreign Secretary Sewa Lamsal and other high-ranking government officials.