India's political establishment was keen to get its act right on Nepal as Prime Minister G P Koirala, accompanied by a 40-member delegation, arrived in Delhi today evening and PM Manmohan Singh set aside protocol to be at the airport.While the Nepalese leaders are here on a goodwill visit, an important component of the discussions would be India’s offer of an economic package. The package will be based on specific requests from the Koirala government. India had announced a package for Nepal’s economic revival on April 28, the day Nepal’s restored Parliament was convened. That offer had been made by Singh when he spoke to Koirala.The visit assumes political significance as it takes place against the backdrop of major developments in Nepal: talks with the Maoists have already begun while King Gyanendra’s powers have been clipped.India has been closely following the developments in the neighbouring country and has held the view that if the Maoists were to come into the political mainstream, they should renounce arms.During his four day visit, Koirala will meet President Abdul Kalam and Vice-President Bhairon Singh Shekhawat, apart from senior ministers. His talks with the PM start on Wednesday.There are some key concerns from the Indian side. With the Maoists certain to play a role in the future, there are questions about India’s special relationship with Nepal. This stems from the Maoists’ demand that all earlier agreements be abrogated and the special relationship with India be reviewed.Koirala’s engagements would include a meeting with the all-party Nepal Solidarity Committee which actively supported the movement for the restoration of democracy in Nepal. With the Left parties in India playing a leading role in the solidarity committee, the key elements in the agreement reached between the Maoists and Nepal’s seven-party alliance were holding elections to a constituent Assembly, and bringing the Maoists into the mainstream for which they renounced their arms.
