Kathmandu, Dec 21 - Against a backdrop of deepening political crisis in Nepal, New Delhi is sending its External Affairs Minister S. M. Krishna to Kathmandu next month for consultations with the country's major political players.

The Indian minister will be arriving probably Jan 15 for a three-day visit. During the trip he will meet embattled Nepal Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal, the two deputy prime ministers, one of whom, Sujata Koirala, is also the foreign minister of Nepal. He will also meet other ministers and chiefs of the main political parties, including Maoist chief Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda whose party has been increasingly accusing New Delhi of interfering in Nepal's internal matters.

On Monday, the second day of a three-day countrywide general strike called by the Maoists, the Maoist-affiliated Janadisha daily said the neighbouring country had always prevented Nepal's pro-democracy movements from reaching the desired positive climax.

In a front-page analysis, the Maoist mouthpiece said India had helped deposed king Gyanendra impose a state of emergency four years ago.

"It is once again trying to prop up the current government of Nepal, which has been rejected by the people, and pledging its wholehearted support," the daily said.

It was a reference to the Nepali prime minister's meeting with his Indian counterpart, Manmohan Singh, in Copenhagen on the sidelines of the climate summit, during which Singh reportedly assured the current government of India's support.

Krishna's visit comes after his predecessor Pranab Mukherjee arrived in Kathmandu in November 2008 on a two-day trip to assess the progress of the commitments made between the prime ministers of the two countries.

Some of the critical issues broached during Mukherjee's visit, including the signing of an updated extradition treaty and the unveiling of a new boundary between the two neighbours, are yet to be accomplished. (IANS)