KATHMANDU, NOV 21 - Minister for Foreign Affairs Mahendra Bahadur Pandey has said that he has not received any official information regarding the cancellation of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s sideline trips in Nepal during the Saarc Summit. 

FM Pandey expressed his displeasure at the press statement issued by Minister for Physical Infrastructure and Transport Management, Bimalendra Nidhi, regarding the cancellation of Modi’s Janakpur visit. 

“I don’t know how Nidhi ji issued the statement,” said Minister Pandey, speaking at a press meet organised at the MoFA on Friday, “I am the official person for that, not him.” Pandey further added that there might have been ‘miscommunication’ regarding the matter.

He said that all the leaders and politicians were visiting Nepal for the Saarc Summit, adding that the government was ready to take the guests to the places they wanted to visit.

Indian PM Modi’s scheduled visit to Janakpur has been filled with controversy and confusion as the statements from the ministers have varied regarding the visit. 

Earlier today, Indian Ambassador Ranjit Rae expressed his unawareness regarding the cancellation of Modi’s sideline trips while Home Secretary Surya Silwal maintained that Modi’s Janakpur visit was still on.