

PATNA: Former Nepal Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal and chief minister Nitish Kumar on Saturday held detailed discussions on an extended Buddhist circuit involving Lumbini in Nepal and Bihar 's Bodh Gaya, Rajgir and Vaishali. Nepal said a large number of tourists desire to visit sacred places. He also stressed on linking Lumbini with the Buddhist tourist circuit.

Kumar and Nepal had a three-hour-long discussion on various issues and together had lunch hosted by the CM. After the meeting, JD (U) MP N K Singh, who was also present, said Nepal praised Bihar government's efforts linking all the Buddhist spots with road and said very good progress has been made in infrastructure, education and health sectors. Bihar's GDP growth rate is unparalleled and the state has emerged out of the list of Bimaru states, Nepal said.

Others present on the occasion included Nepal's former deputy PM and general secretary of CPN (UML) Ishwar Pokhral, his party's international relations panel member Rajan Bhattarai, Nepal ambassador to India Khaganath Adhikari, Indian ambassador to Nepal Jayant Prasad, CM's principal secretary Anjani Kumar Singh and joint secretary, government of India, Akhilesh Mishra and others.

