President Pranab Mukherjee former Nepali Prime Minister Prachanda at a meeting in New Delhi on Friday. (Press Trust of India)
President Pranab Mukherjee today reiterated that India remains "strongly committed" to the success of the peace process in Nepal, saying it also wants early finalisation and promulgation of its constitution.
The president made this observation during a meeting with Nepal's former prime minister and chairman of the Unified Communist Party of Nepal-Maoist Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda', who called on him on Friday at Rashtrapati Bhavan.
"India commends the progress in the constitution drafting since May 2015. It has always supported early finalisation and promulgation of the constitution of Nepal. Recent momentum (in drafting the constitution) must be maintained," said an official release issued on Saturday.
"India looks forward to the institutionalization of democracy in Nepal in a constitutional and multi-party framework. Nepal's political stability and economic progress is in India's interest," he said.
Mr Mukherjee praised Mr Prachanda for being the architect of the peace process in Nepal and for making possible the constituent assembly elections there in November 2013.
He said Mr Prachanda's constructive engagement and support were vital for Nepal's political transition to be complete and durable.