The Indian Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi has turned down the invitation by Nepali counterpart KP Sharma Oli to become chief guest on the Constitution Day.
Oli had extended the invitation during the meeting with Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar who visited Nepal last week.
"A formal invitation was sent to Modi to become chief guest on the Constitution Day. He apparently is scheduled to visit America a day before the Constitution Day. He has sent a message saying he is, therefore, unable to honor the invitation," a government source told Setopati.
Nepal celebrates Constitution Day on Ashwin 3, that falls on September 20 this year, to mark promulgation of the Constitution on the day four years back.
The then foreign secretary Jaishankar had visited Nepal days before promulgation of the Constitution in September 2015 to persuade Nepali leaders to postpone promulgation to include the demands of agitating Madhes-based parties.
He was apparently miffed at the reluctance of Nepali leaders to heed his advice and was believed to be the key man to convince Modi to impose blockade on Nepal immediately after promulgation of the Constitution.
Oli's response to Jaishankar then was the bluntest among the leaders.
It is ironic that Oli sent the message to Modi, who imposed the six-month blockade over the Constitution, to become Chief Guest for the Constitution Day while Jaishankar, believed to have been the instigator for blockade, was the messenger.
