NEW DELHI, June 7 (UPI) -- Upon the arrival of Nepalese Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala to New Delhi for talks, India expressed its unstinting support for the Nepalese government.
The Hindustan Times newspaper said Wednesday that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh personally received his Nepalese counterpart at the airport Tuesday, clearly signaling India's intent to show unstinting support to the Nepalese Seven-Party Alliance government.
Singh has for broken protocol to receive a visiting dignitary for the third time. A local news report said Singh's gesture would help temper Koirala's high expectations for economic assistance.
"India plans to accept major demands; the Nepalese government may have to tide over its severe liquidity problems and financial constraints, but will look into and consider long-term projects and large developmental plans, which could take time to fructify," said an Indian Foreign Ministry official.
"India would not be found wanting. An initial trance of 100 crore rupee ($21.8 million) is likely to be given as aid, followed by project-based assistance. The quantum of annual Indian aid to Nepal over the past few years has been between 60 to 70 crore rupee ($13.1 million to $15.3 million)," the official said.
Nepalese Finance Minister Ram Sharan Mahat is accompanying Koirala on the visit.
India has also shown willing to begin supplying armaments, both lethal and non-lethal, to the Nepalese army as a democratic government is in place in the Himalayan kingdom.
The Indian Foreign Ministry said the government will do whatever possible to strengthen the Koirala regime's hands, and will not link its military and economic assistance package to Maoist disarmament.
