Swaraj-led delegation in Nepal; pays homage to Koirala

 External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj along with an all-party delegation today paid homage to former Nepalese Prime Minister Sushil Koirala who passed away here this morning.

Members of the high-level delegation comprising Congress leader Anand Sharma, JD(U) President Sharad Yadav, CPI(M) General Secretary Sitaram Yechury and National Security Advisor Ajit Doval paid their respects to Koirala at Dashrath Rangashala Stadium in heart of the capital just after arriving.

The leaders also extended their condolences to family members of the former Prime Minister.
After paying homage to the Nepali Congress president, Swaraj met party leaders Ram Chandra Poudel and Krishna Prasad Sitaula.

Official sources said Prime Minister Narendra Modi had reached out to all major political parties to ensure that the delegation has leaders from the opposition as well.

Swaraj, later, will also meet Nepal's Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli and President Bidya Devi Bhandari.

Koirala, who was Nepal's Prime Minister from February 11, 2014, to October 10, 2015, passed away due to pneumonia at his residence. He was 79.

After assuming office, he was tasked with formulating the long-delayed Constitution to bring stability to the nation after years of ethnic conflict and the abolition of the 239-year-old monarchy. He was instrumental in the ushering in of the new Constitution last year.