Nepal will seek India’s help in conducting the Constituent Assembly elections scheduled in November this year. A team of Nepalese Election Commission will visit India soon and hold discussion with his Chief Election Commissioner VS Sampath in this regard, Former Prime Minister of Nepal Sher Bahadur Deuba said on Thursday.
Interacting with members of Press Club of India, Deuba said that Nepal will also be inviting independent observers from UN, India and other countries for the polls.
He denied any anti-India feeling in Nepal and said that bollywood is the biggest binding factor cementing the relations with people of the two countries.
“Indian films are so popular in Nepal that even my wife does no miss them. She goes to watch most Hindi films and at times she doesn’t even bother to wait for me to accompany her,” Deuba said indicating to Arju Deuba who has accompanied him.
He admitted that people from Tarai region have often complained of being treated as second grade citizens and not given adequate share in political decision making process. But under the new constitution adequate arrangements are being made to fulfill their aspirations. Women will be given 33 percent reservation and people of various ethnic regions will be given adequate representation, he said.
Deuba, who has met President Pranab Mukherjee, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Congress President Sonia Gandhi said that all leaders have assured all possible help and support to Nepal.
Regarding the Maoist insurgency, he said that India is capable of dealing with Maoists on its own, ruling out any possible joint action to deal with the left extremists.