Gujral totally disappointed with India's civil aviation policy

Prime Minister Inder Kumar Gujral has expressed extreme displeasure at India's civil aviation policy and said he hoped to better it soon.

"I am making a confession," Gujral said in Kathmandu, "I am totally disappointed with our policy." He hoped the civil aviation secretary M K Kaw who was present on the occasion would 'record his statement'.

Gujral was in the Himalayan state for wide-ranging talks with Nepalese leaders.

"Our political relations with Nepal have now become much better than at any time during the last 50 years,'' he said, pledging India would remain a stable economic partner to the country.

He assured Nepalese and Indian businessmen that his government would encourage joint ventures between the two countries and hoped Nepal would be able to export more manufactured goods to India to reduce its huge bilateral trade gap.

Talking about the additional transit route to Bangladesh for Nepal through Kankarbhitta-Phulbari-Bangla bandh, Gujral said it would operative immediately on a six month trial basis.

Further, Gujral said he agreed to the concept of constructing a peak power station at Pancheshwar which would enhance the Nepalese economy's employment potential.

UNI