To
H.E Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’
Prime Minister, Republic of Nepal
C/0 Embassy of Nepal
Barakhamba Road,
New Delhi

Your Excellency,

It gives me immense pleasure in welcoming you to India.

We, in India, feel privileged that your excellency has chosen India to make your first official visit outside Nepal after assuming office. It is a testimony to the historic, centuries old fraternal ties between the two countries.

May I take this opportunity to congratulate you not only on your assumption of office but also for establishing a socialist, secular, democratic republic, which the people of Nepal have always aspired for.

By giving representation to all sections of society belonging to diverse ethnic and religious groups and abolishing the theocratic structure of the state, your good self has endeared your self not only to the people of Nepal but also secular and democratic forces across the world.

I also deeply appreciate your clarion call to the Naxalite cadres in India to join the democratic mainstream. I am hopeful, nay confident, that the Maoist movement in Nepal led by your good self would inspire the Indian ultra-left to abjure the path of violence and adopt democratic means for the fulfillment of their objectives.

As Prime Minister of India, I have had the opportunity to facilitate the Mahakali Treaty between the two countries. Indo-Nepal ties have withstood the test of time. It is incumbent on leaders of both the great countries to ensure that these ties grow stronger in economic, social, cultural, educational and other sectors by taking into account the changing geo-political realities and the sentiments and aspirations of the people of both India and Nepal.

Though I would have considered it a privilege to interact with your good self as per the earlier schedule, certain developments in my home state of Karnataka have forced me to stay back and miss the golden opportunity. I hope your good self would excuse me for the same.

With God’s grace, I am hopeful of a meeting with your excellency in the near future to make up for this lost opportunity.

May I once again wish you the very best in further strengthening the age-old relations between the two great nations and in building a stronger, peaceful and prosperous Nepal in the days to come.

With Kind Regards,

(H D Deve Gowda)