India recalls Koirala's immense contribution to ties

New Delhi, March 20: India Saturday mourned the death of former Nepal prime minister Girija Prasad Koirala and recalled his "immense contribution" to building close ties between the two countries.

Koirala died Saturday at age 85 following a fortnight-long illness.

The external affairs ministry in a statement recalled "the immense contribution of Koirala to fostering and strengthening close and friendly relations between India and Nepal".

President Pratibha Patil, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna have conveyed their condolences to his daughter Sujata Koirala, who is Nepal's deputy prime minister and foreign minister, the statement said.

Hailed as an architect of the peace negotiations that ended a decade-old Maoist insurgency in Nepal, the Indian leaders also recalled Koirala's contribution and tireless dedication to the cause of peace and democracy in Nepal.