Indo-Nepal relations witnessed many important achievements especially in the power sector during the short tenure of former prime minister Sushil Koirala, Indian Ambassador to Nepal Ranjit Rae said today.
"Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid visited twice and Minister of External Affairs Sushma Swaraj visited three times during the 20 months-long tenure of Koirala," Ambassador Rae said during a meeting organised by Nepal-India Friendship Society in memory of Koirala, who passed away last week at at the age of 79.
Nepal and India had signed Power Trade Agreement to facilitate power exchange between the two countries and Power Development Agreements were inked for the construction of Upper Tamakoshi, being developed by GMR Energy, he said.
Koirala was firm to fulfill his commitments and his principle of simple living and high thinking had inspired many people, he said.
Late Koirala, who spent many years in India in exile, used to say that he would be inspired by the long democratic experience of India, the Indian envoy said.
Nepali Congress general secretary Prakash Man Singh, speaking as chief guest, said Koirala displayed exemplary character while he was in jail or in the chair of prime minister.
"Nepal would not have succeeded in promulgation of the new constitution if Koirala was not involved in the process," he added.
Koirala was one of the few leaders, who spent very simple life and he had no great desire, Nepali Congress leader Laxman Ghimire said.
"Koirala wanted to wait for few more weeks or even few months in drafting the new constitution so as to accommodate the demands raised by the Madhesi communities," he said, adding, but the circumstances did not allow that to happen.
"Koirala has assured me that Nepali Congress party could never be anti-Indian and he would not allow any anti-Indian activity in the Nepalese soil," recalled Prem Lashkery, president of Nepal-India Friendship Society.
Koirala entered politics in 1954 and was in political exile in India for 16 years following the royal takeover of 1960.
He served as Nepal's 37th prime minister from February, 2014 to October, 2015. He was elected as Nepali Congress president in September, 2010.
