Prime Minister Narendra Modi said ?India is ready to consider suggestions if any to review the 1950 India-Nepal Friendship Treaty that governs the relationship between the two countries.

He said it at a banquet hosted by Nepalese Prime Minister Sushil Koirala in the previous night in his honour in Kathmandu.

There have been demands lately for reviewing the treaty and both sides have been reiterating their readiness to do so but without any progress.

In the first bilateral visit by an Indian PM to Nepal in 17 years, Mr Modi told his Nepalese counterpart that he wanted to see it completed in his tenure.

AIR correspondent reports that the PM has asked Nepal to send a team to negotiate this with India as soon as possible.

By putting this out on the table at the start of his engagement with Nepal, Modi has made it clear that he is ready to do away with popular Nepali gripe about this treaty.

Nepal has used the alleged unequalness of the treaty as a stick against India over the years. But despite repeated Indian requests for revision, Nepal has shied away from the actual negotiations.
Modi also spoke about the process of Constitution-making in Nepal, saying it is moving forward.

Prime Minister, who is on a two day state visit to Nepal, will be having a packed day today as he is scheduled to offer prayers at Lord Pashupatinath Temple. Besides he will be meeting the leaders of the different political parties of Nepal.?